Six Multi-Modal Logistics Parks to Boost Port Efficiency

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways plans to develop six Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, aiming to streamline logistics and enhance supply chain efficiency. The parks will offer warehousing, freight handling, customs services, infrastructure connectivity, and environmental sustainability measures.

In a strategic move to bolster India’s logistics infrastructure and enhance port efficiency, the government has initiated the development of six Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs). These MMLPs are designed to integrate various modes of transportation—road, rail, air, and waterways—into a unified hub, thereby streamlining the movement of goods and reducing overall logistics costs.​

Background and Objectives

India’s logistics sector has historically faced challenges, with logistics costs These MMLPs are designed to integrate unified hub, goods and reducing overall logistics costs.​accounting for approximately 13% of the country’s GDP, compared to 8% in other major economies.

This disparity has been attributed to factors such as an Seamless connectivity to multiple transportation modes, facilitating efficient cargo movement to unfavorable inter-modal mix, underdeveloped. various modes air, and waterways—into a.

To address these issues, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Each MMLP is envisioned to occupy a minimum area of 100 acres and will offer launched the Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (LEEP), aiming to develop MMLPs that would serve as hubs for freight aggregation, warehousing, and distribution material handling infrastructure, and regulatory bottlenecks.

• Mechanized Warehousing: State-of-the-art storage facilities equipped with mechanized services like grading, sorting, labeling, and packaging Customs clearance, bonded storage yards, testing facilities, and material handling systems Provisions for cold storage and bulk storage to cater to diverse cargo requirements.The establishment of these MMLPs is expected to significantly enhance port efficiency by.
• Reducing Congestion: By serving as consolidation and distribution hubs, MMLPs can alleviate congestion at major ports, ensuring smoother operations Integrated transport Advanced IT systems within MMLPs will improve the monitoring of consignments, reducing delays and losses facilities will enable quicker and more cost-effective movement of goods to and from ports.
• Current Developments : As of July 2021, MoRTH has identified 35 locations for MMLP development across India, with six projects currently underway A 1,600-acre site has been identified in Mudalinganahalli and Hulikunte, awaiting land acquisition 122 acres, out of a total 158 acres, are owned by Chennai Port Trust, designated for MMLP development.

1. Guwahati, Assam: A 190-acre MMLP at Jogighopa is under construction by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), featuring rail, road, and inland-waterway connectivity The Jalna Dry Port, inaugurated in March 2024, operates as an MMLP with a container handling capacity of nearly 10 million TEUs A 346-acre land parcel owned by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has been earmarked for the MMLP .
3. Nagpur, Maharashtra:
4. Hisar, Haryana: Plans include developing the airport as a cargo hub with an MMLP featuring rail connectivity and warehousing facilities While the development of MMLPs promises substantial benefits, several challenges need to be addressed Securing large contiguous land parcels in strategic locations remains a significant hurdle Mobilizing the estimated ₹2 lakh crore investment for 35 MMLPs requires robust public-private partnerships.

Challenges and Future Outlook Regulatory Coordination: Streamlining approvals across various government agencies is essential for timely project execution.​Despite these challenges, the government’s commitment to enhancing logistics infrastructure through MMLPs is a pivotal step toward reducing logistics.

The successful implementation of these parks will not only facilitate smoother cargo movement but also contribute to economic growth by creating jobs and of transportation—road, rail, attracting investments in the logistics sector costs, improving port efficiency, and boosting India’s competitiveness in global trade.

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