The India business of Dubai-based global logistics giant DP World has expanded infrastructure at its rail terminal in Pali, Haryana, by adding a third rail line, as it anticipates increased freight demand across Northern India.

This expansion will increase the monthly freight train handling capacity of Pali-Rewari rail terminal by 25 percent, from 192 trains to 240 trains. DP World, which is among the largest rail freight operators in the country, currently operates seven strategically-located rail and inland terminals connecting to a wide network of Indian rail terminals.

The Pali terminal, which connects to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) at the New Ateli station, acts as a hub for the company’s supply chains for Northern India. Under the hub and spoke logistics model, distribution is consolidated at a central point (called hub), and is then disaggregated and sent to cater to different geographies.

DP World has spokes for the Pali hub in the form of inland container depots (ICDs) in Modinagar (Uttar Pradesh) and Panipat (Haryana). The Rewari facility is currently running at around 85 percent capacity.

According to Adhendru Jain, vice-president of Rail and Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent, the company has so far invested Rs 1,800 crore in its railway and inland business. It wants to expand further. The company also has 90-owned container and Special Freight Train Operator Scheme (SFTO) rakes, over 16,000 containers, and trailers to facilitate last-mile delivery.