Indian Railways issued a new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal policy that lets legacy sidings migrate into a simplified framework and offers optional paid maintenance by Railways for private connecting stretches to reduce accidents.

The migration path lowers the friction for existing private/legacy freight infrastructure to come under the GCT regime, accelerating terminal conversions and standardising operating terms for shippers and terminal operators. The paid-maintenance option shifts track-upkeep responsibility toward Railways for last-mile connectors, creating a new O&M cost line for private terminal owners while reducing safety-related disruption risk on those links. Railways is also using the policy to drive a freight-loading ramp (automotive, cement, containers, salt) and is targeting Rs 30,000 crore in incremental freight revenue over the next three years, implying near-term commercial pressure to add capacity and onboard customers.