Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) plays a key role in the Indian freight segment, handling about 60 per cent of the container rail traffic, which accounts for 19-20 per cent of the total container movement in India. In an interview with Indian Infrastructure, Sanjay Swarup, Chairman and Managing Director, CONCOR, talked about the country’s current rail freight infrastructure, strategies to enhance rail’s modal share, and the role of technology in enhancing operations. Edited excerpts…
What does CONCOR’s current fleet, warehousing and infrastructure landscape look like?
CONCOR currently operates at 190 locations across the country, providing services for both EXIM and domestic cargo. Of these 66 are CONCOR-owned terminals, including 34 combined terminals (handling both EXIM and domestic cargo), 24 purely domestic terminals, four exclusively for EXIM and four operated through strategic tie-ups. State-wise, Gujarat has the highest number of terminals (10), followed by Punjab and Rajasthan with six terminals each. CONCOR also has a presence at all 13 gateway ports in India and operates across 100 other locations including container rail terminals, private sidings, etc.
CONCOR owns around 400 container rakes, equivalent to approximately 18,000 container wagons, and maintains a fleet of over 54,000 containers for domestic cargo movement. For efficient handling, it has deployed 104 reach stackers and 29 forklifts. Notably, CONCOR has managed to bring down the average dwell time for import containers at Indian ports to around 30 hours, whereas other operators often experience dwell times of 25-30 days.
In terms of infrastructure, CONCOR has developed a warehousing capacity of 4.5 million square feet across its pan-Indian terminal network. To ensure seamless rake placement and removal from terminals, it has acquired 24 shunting engines from IR, which help avoid detention and ensure smooth operations. Additionally, CONCOR operates five gantry cranes, one located at the inland container depot (ICD) Whitefield and the remaining four at ICD Tughlaqabad.
How has CONCOR diversified its services and what new initiatives has it taken recently?
Over the years, CONCOR has evolved from being a purely rail-based operator into a comprehensive end-to-end logistics service provider. First mile-last mile connectivity now accounts for approximately 35 per cent of its total cargo volumes. In 2024-25, the company moved around 750,000 twenty-foot equivalent units by road. CONCOR has set an ambitious target to increase the share of its first mile-last mile services from the current 35 per cent to 100 per cent by 2025-26. To achieve this, we are making significant efforts to provide all customers with complete logistics solutions under one roof.
In addition, CONCOR has embarked on a path of vertical integration. In the past, the company operated only within Indian borders, up to the shoreline. However, it has now expanded its services beyond national boundaries. Its containers have begun reaching destinations in the Middle East, including the UAE, Sharjah and Dubai, where CONCOR is delivering directly to customers’ doorsteps. The organisation is also in discussions to initiate services to Singapore, with operations expected to begin soon. These early steps in international logistics mark the company’s entry into short-sea shipping routes, with plans to gradually expand into regions such as Europe and the US in the coming years.
Another recent initiative is the introduction of parcel services in collaboration with IR. The first parcel movement took place from Bhiwandi, near Mumbai, to Sankrail in Kolkata. This Mumbai-Kolkata parcel service operates on a timetable basis and completed its inaugural journey in approximately 38 hours. The service has been well-received, and based on this success, we plan to introduce our own parcel spe-cials along this corridor and other key routes across the country in the near future.
What role does the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) play in CONCOR’s operations and service offerings?
CONCOR currently has a presence across four locations on the Western DFC, namely Khatuwas, Dadri, Swarup Gunj and Vernama. A fifth terminal, located at Chharodi near Ahmedabad, is under commissioning and is expected to be operational by 2026. The DFC has significantly transformed freight transportation. For instance, from Dadri to Mundra Port, CONCOR operates scheduled freight express trains in collaboration with IR. This service has been well-received by customers. Double-stack container trains running from Dadri to Mumbai (approximately 1,200 km) now take only about 38-40 hours, compared to 55-60 hours by road. This mode of transport is not only faster but also more reliable and economical for customers.
Looking ahead, CONCOR plans to run double-stack container trains from the National Capital Region to Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra once the full corridor becomes operational. We also intend to work with IR to introduce a timetable-based service from its multimodal logistics park (MMLP) at Dadri to Nhava Sheva, further enhancing the efficiency and predictability of freight movement.
How is CONCOR integrating technology and digital solutions into its logistics operations?
While logistics is traditionally considered a low-tech field, CONCOR has embraced technology extensively in its day-to-day operations. All commercial and operational functions are now fully online, with no manual processes at any of its terminals. One of the recent technological advancements is the introduction of e-booking for containers, allowing customers to book containers from their offices. E-forwarding of notes was already in place, and now with e-booking, the entire process has become seamless.
We have also developed a mobile application that enables container booking, tracking and management of first mile-last mile logistics using a reverse auction system. In addition, the organisation has implemented an enterprise resource planning portal and digital workplace solutions, which proved particularly effective during the Covid pandemic.
For customers, CONCOR has introduced an e-filing system and recently launched a rake monitoring portal, which allows the real-time tracking of rakes across the country. Other digital services include e-billing, online registration and a know-your-container feature that enables customers to track containers simply by entering the container number. This system provides real-time information about whether the container is in transit or at a terminal and, if at a terminal, its exact location.
As part of its push toward digital innovation, CONCOR has also piloted an artificial intelligence (AI)-based terminal management system at its ICD in Tughlaqabad. The system has been performing well, and CONCOR plans to implement the same at ICD Whitefield, making it the second terminal in the country to adopt AI-based terminal management.
What steps is CONCOR taking to promote green logistics and reduce carbon emissions?
CONCOR has witnessed a shift of approximately 15 per cent of cargo volume from road to rail on Mundra Port-Dadri circuit, which is a positive development for the country, as rail is a more environment-friendly mode of transport. The organisation is deeply committed to environmental, social and governance norms and is actively working towards promoting green and sustainable logistics.
Currently, around 95 per cent of CONCOR’s transportation is carried out via rail, with the exception of the southern peninsula, where shorter rail distances make road transport more competitive. In this region, we have introduced the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trailers for transportation, including for first mile-last mile operations. The adoption of LNG has become a significant part of the company’s green logistics strategy. So far, we have deployed 165 LNG trucks for first mile-last mile transportation from our terminals to customer premises, and we are in the process of adding approximately 135 more, aiming for a total fleet of over 300 LNG trucks by 2026.
In northern India, we had previously faced limitations due to the lack of LNG refuelling infrastructure. To address this, we have collaborated with Indian Oil Corporation Limited, providing land at the Khatuwas MMLP for the establishment of an LNG fuelling station. With this facility now operational, we are able to run LNG-powered transportation services in the northern region as well.
Furthering the commitment to sustainability, we have established a centre of excellence for green and sustainable logistics in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). This centre will provide consultancy services and strategic guidance to help expand green energy initiatives. Notably, the corporate office has been awarded a GRIHA 3 rating by TERI, recognising its environmentally sustainable design and operations. Additionally, we have signed an MoU with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to set up an LNG fuelling facility at the Khatuwas terminal. We will provide the land, while GAIL will establish and operate the LNG station. These efforts reflect our proactive approach in aligning operations with sustainable and environmentally responsible logistics practices.
What are CONCOR’s expansion targets and timelines over the next few years?
We have laid out an ambitious expansion plan for the future. By 2028, we aim to increase the number of owned terminals to 100 and expand the operational footprint to around 250 locations across the country. We also plan to grow the fleet to over 500 container rakes and expand the container inventory to more than 70,000 units. We are continuously investing in infrastructure and rolling stock to deliver the best possible service to our customers. We have recently designed special tank containers for the transportation of bulk cement, which will eliminate the need for bagging. The service is expected to commence within a few weeks. An order has been placed for 1,000 such tank containers, of which 90 have already been received.
“CONCOR has evolved from being a purely railbased operator into a comprehensive end-to-end logistics service provider. First mile-last mile connectivity now accounts for approximately 35 per cent of its total cargo volumes.”
