Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Lays Foundation Stone Of India’s First Multi-Modal Logistic Park In Assam

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday (20 October) laid the foundation stone for country’s first Multi-modal Logistic Park at Jogighopa in Assam.

The Rs 693.97 crore park will provide direct air, road, rail and waterways connectivity to the people. It will be developed under the government's ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said in a statement.

An MoU was signed between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and Ashoka paper mills, government of Assam on the occasion for sharing of land and logistics in Jogighopa, the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that his ministry envisages developing 35 Multi-modal Logistic Parks (MMLPs) in the country, of which work on preparing DPR and feasibility report is underway.

He said, SPVs will be formed for all these MMLPs, and professionally qualified CEOs will be appointed for each separately.

Gadkari said that the first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by 2023. He informed that works worth Rs 280 crore have already been awarded, including Rs 171 crore for road construction, Rs 87 crore for erecting the structure, and Rs 23 crore for rail lines. The work will begin next month, he said.

The minister expressed hope that this project will provide direct or indirect employment to nearly 20 lakh youth in the state.

Gadkari added that the distance of 154 km between Jogighopa and Guwahati will be covered by making a 4-lane road on this stretch, a 3-km rail line will connect Jogighopa station to the MMLP, another 3-km rail link will connect it to the IWT, and the road to newly developed Rupsi airport will be upgraded to 4-lanes for easier connectivity.

He said the MMLP will have all the facilities like, warehouse, railway siding, cold storage, custom clearance house, yard facility, workshops, petrol pumps, truck parking, administrative building, boarding lodging, eating joints, water treatment plant, etc.