Has Western Railway's Ahmedabad division set a new freight benchmark with the first industrial salt rake?

Ahmedabad, Aug 10 (NationPress) The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway has marked a significant achievement in freight logistics by dispatching its inaugural rake of industrial salt from the Sanosara Goods Shed located in the Gandhidham region to Dahej, according to an official statement from the Gujarat government.

This 58 BOXNHL wagon rake, fully loaded with 3,851.2 tonnes of industrial salt sourced from Chowgule Salt Works Pvt. Ltd., traveled a distance of 673.57 km, generating a revenue of Rs 31.69 lakh in freight.

The Ahmedabad Division stands out as the leading freight contributor within the Western Railway zone, accounting for nearly 40 percent of total cargo transportation. This division is home to three major ports—Mundra, Tuna Tekra, and Kandla—which collectively contribute over 80 percent of its freight volume.

Among the commodities transported are containerized cargo, petroleum products, fertilizers, imported coal, salt, automobiles, edible oils, and bentonite. The division boasts 76 freight handling facilities, which include 7 Gati Shakti multimodal cargo terminals, 6 private freight terminals, 16 private sidings, 37 goods sheds, and 8 port terminals. Last financial year, it successfully loaded approximately 46.77 million tonnes of cargo.

Mundra Port led the charge with 21.33 million tonnes followed by Kandla with 6.10 million tonnes and Tuna Tekra with 1.27 million tonnes, together accounting for 61.36 percent of total loading. Railway officials attribute this new record to an innovative marketing strategy by Indian Railways that emphasizes direct customer engagement to customize transport solutions.

This initiative not only enhances revenue but also builds customer trust, opens up new long-distance rail transport channels for industrial salt, and offers an environmentally friendly alternative to road transport. Looking forward, the division aims to establish six additional cargo terminals over the next 2–3 years, further increasing the share of rail in regional freight movement.

As a pivotal freight hub under Western Railway, the Ahmedabad Division also plays an essential role in India's locomotive operations. Its Vatva loco shed, inaugurated in 1981, initially managed only 15 diesel locomotives; however, it has now transformed into a significant electric locomotive facility housing 148 units, including WAP-4 and WAG-9 engines as of August 2025. What started as a humble diesel workshop has evolved into a cutting-edge maintenance center, ensuring reliable services for both freight and passenger operations.