Railway logistics centres are planned at Angamaly and Karukutty stations in Ernakulam district to strengthen freight movement and expand rail-based cargo handling, according to a report by Mathrubhumi – Kochi. The facilities will be developed on surplus railway land with participation from private operators.
Around 4,400 square metres has been made available for the proposed centre at Angamaly station, while 3,000 square metres has been identified at Karukutty. The railway will offer licences to private enterprises through competitive bidding. The selected operators will be responsible for developing the infrastructure and running the centres.
The plan is intended to support the movement, storage and distribution of goods in the region. Possible facilities include warehouses, silos for storing larger quantities of products, cold-chain centres with refrigeration systems, micro-fulfilment centres for online commerce and cargo-scanning infrastructure.
Such facilities would allow traders and producers to store goods securely before they reach the market, sort consignments and distribute them according to demand. The proposed centres are also expected to support cargo movement linked to Cochin International Airport, located near the Angamaly and Karukutty areas.
The reported plan comes as cargo movement through the airport, particularly in the fast-moving consumer goods segment, is growing. Linking railway facilities with airport-linked logistics could allow storage, handling and distribution to be coordinated within a wider regional freight network. The report said this could also reduce dependence on road transport for long-distance cargo movement and improve the use of rail for freight.
The railway land will be allotted under the applicable policy through an open competitive auction. The annual licence fee will have to be paid in advance, and the initial contract period will be 25 years. A fresh tender will be conducted when the contract period ends.
The proposed logistics centres could also create activity in cargo handling, storage, packaging and distribution. However, their eventual scale and operational impact will depend on the facilities built by private operators, the cargo volumes they attract and how effectively they connect with railway and airport freight systems.
Land reserved for Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals is excluded from the proposed project, according to the report. The next formal step is the competitive bidding process through which private operators will receive rights to use the identified railway land.
