DP World starts Gujarat-Kolkata rail services to boost east-west trade

DP World has launched two new domestic rail services connecting Bhimasar and Hazira in Gujarat to Kolkata in West Bengal. The services aim to speed up cargo movement between manufacturing centres in western India and trade hubs in the east.

The services will run twice a month, with Bhimasar-Kolkata taking 8 days and Hazira-Kolkata taking 7 days, each with a capacity of 90 TEUs. The cargo includes edible oils, chemicals, steel, industrial goods, food grains and salt.

Gujarat is a major manufacturing base in India with over 450,000 MSMEs and large industries across sectors like chemicals, dairy, cement, textiles and engineering. Kolkata plays a key role in exports, particularly in leather, tea and textiles, and serves as a trade gateway to East and Northeast India.

“These new services bridge two vital economic corridors. Gujarat’s dynamic manufacturing base and Kolkata’s role as a gateway to East and Northeast India,” said Adhendru Jain, Vice President, Rail and Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent. “By enhancing connectivity between production and consumption markets, we’re enabling the smoother movement of goods like grains, industrial goods, chemicals, steel and retail cargo, supporting more agile supply chains and regional integration.”

He added, “As India drives its logistics transformation under the PM Gati Shakti and Make in India initiatives, DP World remains committed to building future-ready infrastructure that boosts competitiveness, drives regional growth, and strengthens supply chain resilience.”

The new services are part of DP World’s ongoing investment of $207 million (₹1800 crore) in India’s rail freight sector. The company operates a rail network with over 100 container rakes and 16,000 containers and trailers.

DP World also operates a terminal at Mundra and is developing a new 2.19 million TEU terminal at Tuna Tekra. Its broader logistics network includes seven inland terminals, a 15,000-pincode express cargo network, over 5 million sq. ft. of warehousing, three Free Trade Warehousing Zones and freight forwarding capabilities.