Railway Containers Manufacturing Park
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2714
ANSWERED ON: 10.03.2025
Railway Containers Manufacturing Park
Mahendrabhai Kalubhai Munjpara
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether Surendranagar district has lots of vacant land available near Surendranagar railway yards and if so, the details thereof;
(b) If so, whether the Government has any plans to set up a railway containers manufacturing park in Surendranagar district in the Gujarat; and
(c) If so, the details thereof?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) Available vacant land near Surendranagar Junction Railway yard has been kept reserved for future development of Yard keeping in view doubling of Surendranagar-Rajkot Kanalus Section, electrification of Surendranagar Rajkot-Okha Section, development of Goods yards, stabling lines, Electric loco shed, Construction of offices, staff quarters etc. as may be required in future.
(b) No such proposal has been received.
(c) Does not arise.
Here’s a detailed look into the concept of a Railway Containers Manufacturing Park in India, clarifying where the initiative stands and highlighting key developments in container manufacturing:
1. Is There a Dedicated Railway Containers Manufacturing Park?
- No, there is no official proposal for such a park. In a 2025 Lok Sabha response, the Railway Minister confirmed that while land near Surendranagar (Gujarat) is reserved for future railway infrastructure expansion (like yards or staff quarters), no plans exist for a dedicated container manufacturing facility there.
2. Container Manufacturing: Growing Industrial Hubs
While no formal “park” exists, several industrial setups are actively manufacturing railway and shipping containers:
- Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Aawadkrupa Plastomech Pvt. Ltd. (and subsidiary APPL Containers) are scaling production of ISO-standard containers—from about 15/day currently to a capacity of 100/day. These containers are being deployed domestically and for exports. - A government feasibility committee is also exploring development of Bhavnagar into a broader container manufacturing hub.
- Braithwaite & Co (BCL), Hooghly (West Bengal)
BCL is investing in infrastructure at its Angus Works unit to manufacture 20′ and 40′ ISO containers as part of the “Make in India” initiative—aimed at substituting imports. - JSPL at Paradip Port (Odisha)
Jindal Steel & Power Ltd is exploring a port-based container manufacturing unit across 100 acres of land at Paradip, aligning with “Make in Odisha” and import-reduction goals.
3. Logistics Infrastructure & Terminals (Not Manufacturing Parks)
Although not manufacturing facilities, several infrastructure projects are enhancing container movement:
- Specialized Container Terminals
Indian Railways plans to set up 23 dedicated container-only rail terminals across multiple states—designed for exclusive container freight operations, discouraging bulk cargo use. - Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs)
For example, the Apeejay Logistics Park in Kalinganagar (Odisha) includes a dedicated railway siding, bonded warehousing, and links to ports—facilitating efficient container handling.
4. Summary Table
| Initiative | Status / Details |
|---|---|
| Dedicated Manufacturing Park | None exists; only land reserved (e.g., Surendranagar) |
| Bhavnagar Manufacturing Unit | Operational; scaling up to 100 containers/day; future hub under consideration |
| BCL (Hooghly) | Building infrastructure to manufacture ISO containers domestically |
| JSPL at Paradip | Proposed plant to manufacture containers at the port |
| Container Terminals (Rail) | 23 proposed specialized terminals for container freight |
| MMLPs (e.g., Kalinganagar) | Logistics hubs with container handling—not manufacturing |
Final Thoughts
There is no single dedicated “Railway Containers Manufacturing Park” in India yet. However, multiple regionally dispersed efforts—from Bhavnagar and Hooghly to Paradip—are cumulatively advancing container production capacity under government-backed industrial policies. Meanwhile, Indian Railways continues to develop logistics infrastructure—like specialized terminals and MMLPs—to support container traffic growth.
Let me know if you’d like further insights into any of these projects, regional industrial trends, or policy frameworks supporting them!