Value-added services to be a part of nation-wide warehousing network
A Tripartite MoU has been signed for swift development of modern Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP) to develop state-of-the-art large scale warehousing facilities across the country for different types of commodities.
The MMLPs will focus on a technology driven implementation for a state-of-the-art freight management system, making it a one-stop solution for all services related to cargo movement like warehousing, custom clearance, parking, maintenance of trucks among others.
“Many value-added services like packaging, repackaging and labelling will be available in these projects,” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on 24 Aug 2022.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Gen (Retd) VK Singh witnessed signing of tripartite agreement for swift development of modern MMLP across the country.
The MMLP’s objective is to centralize freight consolidation and reduce logistics cost from 14% to less than 10% of GDP at par with International Standards.
Speaking on the occasion Gadkari said the MoU will provide seamless modal shift, and MMLPs will ensure that cargo is swapped and shifted from and to Waterways, Dedicated Freight Corridors and Road Transport.
Sonowal added, “This agreement is an earnest attempt towards realisation of this objective. MMLPs are designed to untie the cobweb of logistics movement and enliven the logistics sector to put the economy into the fast lane of growth.”
Developed under a ‘Hub & Spoke’ model, the MMLP will integrate multiple modes of freight transport through highways, railways and inland waterways.
The agreement underlines the cooperation and collaboration model between the three bodies in order to achieve efficiency in logistics movement within the country.
MMLP will be a freight handling facility with rail and road accessibility, comprising of container terminals, cargo terminals (bulk, break-bulk), warehouses, cold storage, facilities for mechanised material handling and value-added services such as customs clearance with bonded storage yards, quarantine zones, testing facilities and warehousing management services etc. along with other associated facilities, said the Ministry.
The tripartite agreement was signed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
The NHLML is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of National Highway Authority (NHAI) of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways while IWAI is a statutory authority under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. The RVNL is a wholly owned Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Railways. fiinews.com
