Archive · 21 Sep 2026
South Coast Railway shifts wood pulp traffic to rail
South Coast Railway wants more companies to send goods by train.
Imported wood pulp had been traveling by road from Kakinada to Maharashtra for about 15 years.
The railway found that its freight rules made trains more expensive than trucks.
Officials worked with industry representatives to change the pricing classification for wood pulp.
The new classification lowered the railway charges.
As a result, the 1,061-kilometre shipment was moved to rail.
One train carrying the pulp has already been loaded.
Railway officials expect this business to bring in nearly Rs 20 crore each year.
South Coast Railway has moved imported wood pulp traffic from road to rail.
The 1,061-km route runs from Kakinada to paper units in Maharashtra.
The first rake was loaded at Kakinada Port for Bhigwan in Maharashtra.
A revised tariff classification reduced rail freight charges for wood pulp.
The traffic is expected to add 1.5 lakh tonnes and nearly Rs 20 crore annually.
- Who
- South Coast Railway, railway officials, and industries transporting imported wood pulp.
- What
- Imported wood pulp traffic has been shifted from road to rail, creating a new freight opportunity.
- When
- The first rake was loaded on Saturday; the proposal for revised rating was sent to the Railway Board in July 2026.
- Where
- From Kakinada Port to Bhigwan in Maharashtra, over a distance of 1,061 kilometres.
- Why
- A revised freight classification reduced charges and made rail transport more competitive with road transport.
- Commodity
- Imported wood pulp
- Route
- Kakinada to Bhigwan, Maharashtra
- Distance
- 1,061 kilometres
- Previous transport mode
- Road
- New annual freight loading
- Around 1.5 lakh tonnes
- Expected annual revenue
- Nearly Rs 20 crore
- Expected revenue per rake
- Nearly Rs 40 lakh
- New tariff classification
- Class-110 under the Goods Tariff