The upcoming logistics park at Jogighopa is India’s first Multi Modal Logistics Park that is primed to redefine the existing trade, commerce and logistics of the region as well as the country. With state-of-the-art facilities and trailblazing infrastructure to look out for, we look at how the MMLP will herald the beginning of sweeping changes in India’s logistics sector and the potential it harbours within.
Jogighopa is a small town located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Bongaigaon district in the state of Assam, India. A beautiful town characteristic of Assam’s lush green flora and abundant fauna, the town’s quiet scenery is now a striking contrast to the mega project that is brimming in the heart of the town.
India’s first MMLP
India’s first Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) that will come up at Jogighopa, about 155 kilometres west of Guwahati, is poised to be a game-changer for the entire Northeast, as well as neighbours Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The park in Jogighopa will be one of the 24 stateof- the-art Multimodal Logistic Parks (MMLP) under the Centre’s Bharatmala project. It is going to be the only state-funded logistics park out of the 24.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has entrusted NHIDCL with the work of development of the Multimodal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Jogigopha in Bongaigaon district under the Bharatmala Pariyojna.
The Government of Assam has approved transfer of 200 Acres of land belonging to Ashok Paper Mill (APM) for the project in pursuance of the decision of the Cabinet.
India’s Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs):
A key policy initiative of the Government of India to improve the country’s logistics sector by reducing overall freight costs, reducing vehicular pollution and congestion, and cutting warehousing costs. The government’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is developing multi-modal logistics parks at selected locations in the country under its Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (LEEP).
India is burdened with high logistics costs, which account for about 13% of the value of goods sold in the economy compared with 8% in other major economies. The average cost to export/import one container in India is about 72% higher than in China.
LEEP, which is led by the MoRTH and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), aims to enhance freight transport in India by cutting down on costs and time, and improving the tracking and traceability of consignments through infrastructural, procedural, and information technology interventions.
What is an MMLP?
An MMLP is a freight-handling facility with a minimum area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares), with various modes of transport access, and comprising mechanised warehouses, specialised storage solutions such as cold storage, facilities for mechanised material handling and intermodal transfer container terminals, and bulk and break-bulk cargo terminals.
With the coming of the parks, provisions will also be made for late-stage manufacturing activities such as kitting and final assembly, grading, sorting, labelling and packaging activities, reworking and returns management.
Laying The Foundation
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari had virtually laid the foundation stone of the Rs 3,000-crore park at Jogighopa of Bongaigaon district in Assam and it will have air, rail, road and waterway connectivity in October. It was attended by Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, Industries and Commerce Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary among others.
The logistics park will provide direct connectivity through air, road, rail and waterways to the people. Gadkari said the park will have various facilities like freight-handling facility with various modes of transport access, and comprising mechanised warehouses, specialised storage solutions such as cold storage, facilities for mechanized material handling and inter-modal transfer container terminals, and bulk and break-bulk cargo terminals.
As per government’s norms, logistics parks will further provide value-added services such as customs clearance with bonded storage yards, quarantine zones, testing facilities, and warehousing management services.
Provisions will also be made for late-stage manufacturing activities such as kitting and final assembly, grading, sorting, labelling and packaging activities, re-working, and returns management.
Facilities at Jogighopa’s MMLP
Entrance to the MMLP will be through the proposed 45 metre wide road connecting the NH 17.
The gate complex will have an integrated information system and freight information system which will ensure safe and authorised access inside the MMLP the master plan is driven fundamentally by the draft MMLP policy at the master planning level, key considerations have been taken to achieve a balanced and optimum utilisation of land in planning of the core ancillary and the supporting facilities, zones of warehousing, vehicular movements, utilities, green spaces, admin and commercial facilities are special distributed within the master plan, road-based and rail-based services have been segregated at planning level.
The key commodities which would be handled by the proposed facility are cement, petroleum, clinker, boulders, rice, fly ash and fertilizers.
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