JNPA Officials Inspect Kharbhav, Nilanje Stations to Boost Freight Links to Bhiwandi
Senior officials from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority inspected key railway infrastructure along the Dedicated Freight Corridor on Sunday to explore using strategic rail nodes to accelerate container evacuation from the port to logistics centres in Bhiwandi.
JNPA Chairman Gaurav Dayal and Deputy Chairman Ravish Singh led a port delegation that visited the newly developed Kharbhav Railway Station to review its operational readiness for freight traffic. Integrating Kharbhav into JNPA's rail network is intended to speed up the movement of containerised cargo to major distribution hubs in Bhiwandi while cutting transit times and reducing reliance on road transport.
Following the assessment at Kharbhav, the officials inspected the Bhiwandi Warehousing Hub to evaluate its supply chain capacity, storage readiness, and last-mile logistics efficiency. The inspection team also travelled to the New Nilanje Railway Station to examine its suitability as an additional freight handling node in the expanding rail network.
Dayal noted that efficient multimodal connectivity is essential for modern port operations. He explained that by utilising the Dedicated Freight Corridor through strategic rail nodes such as Kharbhav and Nilanje, the port aims to provide seamless, faster, and environmentally sustainable evacuation routes directly to major commercial clusters in Bhiwandi.
Singh emphasised the economic and operational advantages of shifting freight off highways, stating that transitioning a larger share of container traffic from road to rail is critical for lowering logistics costs and shortening turnaround times. He added that the assessments reinforce the port authority's goal of building resilient hinterland connectivity to support trade and industrial growth.
The railway assessment is part of JNPA's broader initiatives under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on integrated infrastructure development. Expanding rail connectivity is also intended to relieve road congestion across the regional transport network while strengthening freight links to consumption centres.
