DP World and India’s Reliance Industries have partnered to launch an innovative logistics solution for the petrochemicals industry, shifting product transport from road to rail.
This initiative is expected to cut carbon emissions significantly while enhancing operational efficiency.
The new solution connects Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar plant in Gujarat, India, to DP World’s inland container depot (ICD) in Ahmedabad and onward to the port of Mundra.
Previously, the Mundra-Jamnagar-Mundra round trip involved approximately 700km of road transport for each container. With the new solution, the Ahmedabad-Jamnagar-Mundra route, also approximately 700km, has been converted to rail. This transition eliminates the environmental and operational challenges associated with long-distance road transport while maintaining the same coverage.
The integrated rail service enables the transport of up to 1,260 tonnes of cargo and consolidates up to 45 boxes in a single movement, streamlining logistics and reducing the need for multiple trailers and drivers. This cuts down on transportation costs and ensures seamless vessel connectivity for timely exports. By reducing over 700km of road transport per container, the rail solution significantly reduces carbon emissions and contributes to Reliance’s environmental goals.
“The shift from road to rail has streamlined our operations, reduced carbon emissions, reduced road exposure by eliminating 45 road trailer movements, and reinforced our commitment to responsible and efficient supply chain practices,” said Ravikumar Nair, Head SCM Operations, Reliance Industries Ltd – Petchem.
Spanning over a decade, this collaboration is an extension of the longstanding partnership between Reliance Industries Ltd and Unifeeder, a DP World company, which acts as Reliance’s primary logistics service provider. The new rail service is part of a long-term contract, with plans to expand capacity and offer more flexibility to meet Reliance’s growing logistics needs.
“The newly flagged coastal-rail integrated service not only fulfills Reliance Industries’ efficiency requirements but also ensures sustainable cargo movement,” noted Adhendru Jain, Vice President of Rail and Inland Terminals at DP World Subcontinent.
