Sical Logistics Limited, India's leading integrated multimodal
logistics solutions provider, initiated the operations of its second
container train from the Melpakkam rail terminal near Arakkonam, 70
km from Chennai, to a private rail siding at Patli, near Gurgaon.
Sical Multimodal And Rail Transport (SMART) Ltd, a 100% subsidiary
of Sical, obtained the category 1 pan-India license in January `07
to run container trains for exim and domestic cargo and recently
took delivery of a second rake from Titagarh Wagons in July '08.

The company entered into a strategic tie-up at Melpakkam with Sattva
Conware Pvt Ltd, a leading CFS player from the Chennai region in
February `08. Under the partnership, Sical will have access to
Sattva's infrastructural facilities at Melpakkam.

Sical Multimodal is the first private player in India to run
container trains on the Chennai-Delhi sector. Its second container
train is carrying general cargo like cars, steel pipes, malt, raw
rubber and industrial chemicals amongst others.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashwin C Muthiah, Chairman Sical Logistics
said, "We are pleased at the expansion of our container train
operations to the North South corridor. Private rail transport
offers an interesting alternative to road transport with the promise
of improved service levels along with reasonable time and cost
savings to the customer."

"We are making strategic investments in developing terminals at
Chennai, Bangalore, Panvel and Nagpur which are expected to be
operational by FY 2011. We would have acquired in all 13 rakes by
that time, which will allow us to commence full-fledged operations
from 2011 onwards." added Ashwin C Muthiah, Chairman Sical Logistics.

Sical's network of ICDs/ CFSs across India will be in the form of
a `hub-and-spoke' model with the terminals at Nagpur as the `hub'
and key industrial locations across the country as the spokes. The
company will develop the nodes, in a phased manner over the next
five years. The project cost is estimated to be INR 862 crores with
a debt equity ratio of 2:1.

Sical Multimodal's rail operations, combined with Sical's strong
presence in bulk, inland and offshore logistics, enable the company
to offer innovative, competitive and reliable end-to-end solutions
to its customers across India. Sical's first rake provides a
complete multimodal logistics solution to M/s Hindustan Copper Ltd,
transporting copper concentrates/copper cathodes to and from
Ghatsila in Jharkhand and Khetri in Rajasthan. The company also
provides last mile connectivity for the finished products of
Hindustan Copper from their factory at Taloja, near Mumbai.

http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/sical%E2%80%99s-
starts-2nd-rake-operationschennai-delhi-sector/18/39/351451

Mon, Aug 11 at 17:00