South Coast Railway has reviewed freight infrastructure and operational bottlenecks around Adani Krishnapatnam Port and nearby railway stations as the port targets 25 million tonnes of cargo movement by rail in the current financial year.
South Coast Railway Principal Chief Operations Manager Vineet Kumar inspected the port and the goods sheds at Manubolu, Krishnapatnam, Niduguntapalem and Rapur on Friday. The review covered infrastructure, operational safety, cargo-handling facilities and ongoing works intended to support higher freight volumes.
At Adani Krishnapatnam Port, Kumar held discussions with chief executive officer Jagadeesh Patel on infrastructure projects and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening freight-handling capacity. The port has added a feeding conveyor to its silo-loading system, allowing two silos to operate simultaneously, according to the report.
The port has also added another mechanised berth, taking its total to six mechanised berths capable of handling Capesize vessels. Each of these vessels can carry more than one lakh tonnes of cargo, increasing the port’s capacity for bulk cargo operations.
The infrastructure additions form part of the port’s effort to increase the volume of cargo moved by rail. It has set a target of loading 25 million tonnes of freight by rail during the current financial year, compared with 22.7 million tonnes achieved in the previous financial year. The target represents an increase of 2.3 million tonnes over the previous year’s reported rail freight volume.
Kumar’s inspection of the four railway stations and their goods sheds focused on facilities supporting freight operations, safety arrangements and the progress of infrastructure works. The review also examined measures to streamline cargo handling and improve operational efficiency across the port-rail interface.
The port and railway network serve different operational functions in the freight chain. Port-side loading systems and mechanised berths determine how cargo is handled at the maritime gateway, while railway stations, goods sheds and associated works affect how freight is assembled, moved and dispatched inland. The inspection brought both parts of that system into a single operational review.
The South Coast Railway team included Senior Divisional Operations Manager A. Suresh Reddy and Divisional Commercial Manager G. Mohana Krishna. Officials assessed the bottlenecks that could affect growing freight demand and reviewed whether ongoing works were aligned with the requirements of higher cargo volumes.
The inspection comes as the port and railway authorities coordinate to expand bulk cargo capacity and improve rail-based logistics. The next operational milestone is the port’s effort to achieve its 25-million-tonne rail freight target during the current financial year, supported by the additional conveyor, expanded mechanised berth capacity and station-level infrastructure works.
