₹34.71 cr. revenue from petroleum loading at IOCL Pakni siding

The Solapur Division of Central Railway has registered strong growth in freight operations by earning ₹34.71 crore in revenue from loading Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) petroleum products at the Pakni siding in Solapur district of Maharashtra during the calendar year 2025.

According to information provided by Solapur Railway Division, a total of 243 rakes carrying petroleum products were loaded from IOCL Pakni siding between January and December 2025, marking a major milestone in the division’s freight performance.

The Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) loading operation at the Pakni siding was inaugurated on January 28, 2025 and the performance since then, has been described as highly encouraging.

A major portion of the petroleum products loaded at IOCL Pakni siding is supplied to destinations in Karnataka, particularly Hirenanduru in Kalaburagi district and Hubballi, sources in the Solapur Division said.

The other destinations include Miraj in Maharashtra and Secunderabad in Telangana, underscoring the facility’s wide regional connectivity.

The Pakni siding handles a diverse range of petroleum products such as High Speed Diesel, Motor Spirit, Superior Kerosene Oil, ethanol and biodiesel.

Railway officials said that the diversified product mix supports the transportation of both conventional and alternative fuels through a safe, efficient and environment-friendly rail mode.

With the commencement of outward loading operations in 2025, the IOCL Pakni siding has emerged as a strategically important logistics hub. It has become the first IOCL rake-loading facility in Maharashtra, the ninth exclusive marketing rake-loading location of IOCL in the country and the 18th overall location, including refineries, across India.

Originally notified in 1996, the Pakni siding was earlier handling limited inward petroleum traffic. The start of large-scale outward loading has significantly enhanced its role in regional freight movement, transforming it into a major petroleum logistics centre.

The operation is supported by a 747-km dedicated pipeline connecting the Koyali refinery in Vadodara, Gujarat, to the Pakni depot in Solapur, Maharashtra. Petroleum products are transported from the refinery to the depot through the pipeline and are subsequently distributed to nearby depots and consumption centres by rail, ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability.

Railway officials said that the strong performance at Pakni siding reflects effective coordination between Indian Railways and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

The Solapur Division of Central Railway remains committed to expanding freight capacity, increasing revenue and contributing to the economic growth of Maharashtra, neighbouring States and the country, the senior officers in the Division said.