The nation’s largest in‑plant rail siding has been inaugurated at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar facility in Haryana. Opened by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the terminal integrates seamlessly into the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) and marks a significant leap in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure.
Spanning 46 acres with 8.2 km of track and a direct 6.9‑km link to Northern Railway at Patli, the terminal enables Maruti plants in Manesar and Gurugram to dispatch up to 450,000 cars annually. The first rake, carrying 276 units to Nagpur, underscores the terminal’s scale and strategic intent. Built under the ambitious PM Gati Shakti master plan, HORC is a 126‑km double‑track line connecting Sonepat to Palwal via Manesar. Delivered through a public‑private partnership—led by Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (55%), HSIIDC (19%), GMDA (5%), and key private partners—the corridor aims to shift freight traffic away from congested Delhi, enhance multimodal connectivity, and decongest highways.
Green Corridor, Cleaner Emissions
Maruti Suzuki has invested ₹452 crore—₹325 crore in the corridor and ₹127 crore in the siding—positioning logistics at the centre of its sustainability agenda. The company projects an annual reduction of 60 million litres in fuel use and a cut of 175,000 tonnes in CO₂ emissions by transporting 35% of cars via rail by FY2030‑31. Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of MSIL, termed the terminal a milestone for green logistics, while CM Saini called it a “golden chapter in Haryana’s growth story,” signaling global connectivity and economic uplift.
While Marhowrah’s Diesel Locomotive Factory in Bihar leads locomotive exports to Guinea under the “Make in India” vision, the Manesar terminal uniquely supports vehicle exports via rail to ports like Pipavav and Mundra. Northern Railway recently facilitated the first rail-borne export of Maruti Jimny SUVs to Africa, showcasing the corridor’s strategic synergy. This terminal not only enhances domestic freight efficiency but positions Haryana as a logistics hub linked to global trade routes. By diverting traffic from highways like NH‑8, the project alleviates congestion and urban emissions—aligned with the country’s broader NetZero and eco‑mobility goals.
The commissioning of India’s largest factory-integrated rail siding at Manesar represents a convergence of infrastructure innovation, environmental responsibility, and global export strategy. It exemplifies how urban-industrial ecosystems can be redesigned for efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity, contributing significantly to India’s green logistics and climate objectives. As the project rolls out, close monitoring of operational impact, multimodal integration, and corridor utilisation will be essential to ensure its transformative potential is fully realised.
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