In a significant move to boost freight operations, the Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) has entered into a strategic partnership with a private firm. The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), is designed to streamline the loading and transportation processes for cement originating from the newly established plant at the Daniyawan railway siding.
Sealing the Partnership for Efficiency
The official signing ceremony took place on Tuesday at the office of the divisional railway manager. The agreement was inked by Abhinav Siddharth, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Danapur, and Amrendra Kumar, the head of the Daniyawan cement plant.
According to Siddharth, the primary objective of this MoU is to enhance operational efficiency, ensure a quicker turnaround of railway rakes, and significantly boost the movement of freight from the region to various destinations across India.
A Proven Revenue Generator
The Daniyawan siding has already established itself as a major contributor to the division's freight earnings. The senior DCM provided concrete figures to underscore its success.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the loading of 760 rakes of cement generated an impressive Rs 82 crore in revenue for the railways. This positive trajectory continued into the 2024-25 fiscal, where the handling of 860 rakes resulted in earnings of Rs 103 crore.
The current 2025-26 fiscal is off to a strong start, with the division having already loaded 48 rakes and earned Rs 56 crore so far. This robust performance reflects both strong market demand for cement and improved coordination between the railway division and the cement industry.
Future Outlook and Broader Impact
Railway officials expressed strong optimism that the new agreement will further solidify this partnership and help maximize the potential of the Daniyawan facility, which is rapidly emerging as a key cement loading hub in the region.
Echoing this sentiment, Abhishek Kumar Tiwary, the Danapur Divisional Commercial Manager, stated that the collaboration is anticipated to provide a substantial boost to railway revenue. Furthermore, it is expected to support smoother and more reliable nationwide supply-chain operations for Ultratech Cement in the coming days.
