The development of a Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jalna in Maharashtra was the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week between National Highways Logistics Management Ltd. and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in the presence of Union Ministers for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal Chairman of the JNPA, Sanjay Sethi, IAS, attended the event.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), MPs, Maharashtra State Ministers Abdul Sattar, Uday Samant, and Sandipan Bhumare, as well as Union MoS General V. K. Singh, were all present for the event.
Speaking at the event, Gadkari noted that the Jalna MMLP will serve as the Marathwada region’s functional dry port in addition to serving as a driver for the region’s growth. This invention would be incredibly beneficial for the cotton industry, seed businesses, fruit and vegetable processing facilities, steel and related companies dependent on scrap, and so on. He said that it would link the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridors and Samruddhi Marg. This infrastructure will facilitate the export of agricultural goods and turn Jalna into the Marathwada region’s automobile centre, he continued.
The development of 35 MMLPs under the Bharatmala Pariyojana has been approved by the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, creating a historic moment for the development of multimodal infrastructure. The goal is to centralise freight consolidation and reduce logistics costs from 14% to less than 10% of GDP, in line with international standards, the Minister stressed. He added that Team MoRTH has been continuously on the mission to study sustainable modes of transport, including through road, rail, water, and air, and that the effort would provide MMLPs with a platform for smooth modal shift of freight.
According to Sarbanada Sonowal, both farmers and the export-import commerce will gain a lot from the MMLP. According to the visionary PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy, it will strengthen the logistics industry and spur economic growth.
