Indian Railways has recorded a remarkable 170% increase in cement movement over the last four months, highlighting the impact of recent reforms aimed at modernising bulk cement transportation.
Introduced in November last year, the reforms focus on innovative bulk cement tank containers, customised logistics solutions and a bulk cement terminal policy. These measures are designed to enable seamless end-to-end movement of cement while encouraging a shift from road transport to cleaner and more efficient rail-based logistics.
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the new system has simplified loading and unloading, reduced material loss and improved overall plant-to-market efficiency. Cement produced at manufacturing locations can now be transported directly to consumption centres in specialised tank containers, reducing multiple handling stages.
The reforms are also expected to deliver environmental benefits by reducing dust generation, fuel consumption, road congestion and emissions.
The Railways Ministry is also exploring significant opportunities in fly ash transportation. India produces nearly 300 million metric tonnes of fly ash annually, while only around 13 million tonnes is currently transported by rail. Increasing this share could support cement manufacturing, brick production and construction while transforming industrial waste into a valuable economic resource.
These initiatives underline Indian Railways’ growing role in building a more efficient, sustainable and integrated national logistics ecosystem.
