Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually inaugurated the Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub and launched two new door-to-door freight and parcel services on 14 October, 2025, emphasising their importance in enhancing efficiency and reducing logistics costs.

The services enable industries to send containers without filling an entire rake, bridging the logistical gap between factories and train loading points. Indian Railways will equip goods sheds and logistics terminals with container stuffing and de-stuffing facilities to support this model. Sonik, near Lucknow, is the first integrated hub under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative, which has developed 115 multimodal terminals nationwide. The new services will initially run on the Mumbai-Kolkata corridor, with plans for expansion. The initiative also includes affordable transport for tractors and heavy equipment, benefiting farmers.

Railway Board CEO Satish Kumar described the door-to-door delivery as a paradigm shift, transforming Indian Railways into a comprehensive logistics provider. The Sonik hub, managed by CONCOR, offers advanced infrastructure and handles diverse cargo like fertilizers, food grains, cement, and tractors.