India's first rail auto hub kicks-off

Rail auto hubs will be set-up at major locations near automakers manufacturing plant. It was proposed the first auto hub will be set-up at walajabad in the kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. India's first rail auto hub is now operational. It was announced during last budget, rail auto hub will be set-up to transport cars across states. Rail auto hubs will be set-up at major locations near automakers manufacturing plant. It was proposed the first auto hub will be set-up at walajabad in the kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. Now, the first hub has become operational through transporting 124 hyundai cars. The hub is located closer to the manufacturing facilities of Renault-Nissan, Hyundai, Ford and will help in freight of their vehicles easily. The hub is capable of handling 5000 cars once it is fully set-up. Now with an initial holding capacity of 300 cars ,this auto rail hub also has good road connectivity to the production and consumption centres.

Southern Railway plans to capture the export market through Chennai and Ennore ports as well. It plans to transport cars to and from the two ports. The move is likely to help it increase its freight earnings.

BC Dutta, AVP, Corporate Affairs, Hyundai Motor India, commenting on the auto hub said this will definitely help the industry. “The Railways has created an excellent facility at Walajabad,” he said. At present, Hyundai is using Tiruvallur station to move cars to other parts of the country. This will be shifted to Walajabad, which is closer to the company’s plant located at Sriperumbudur, he said. Following the North-West and North-East dedicated freight corridors, the Minister announced North-South corridor connecting Delhi and South.