Rail, highways, waterways authorities sign logistics pact

A tripartite agreement for the development of modern Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP) under Bharatmala Pariyojna was signed in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, this week. The agreement was signed by National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL). It aims to centralize freight consolidation and reduce logistics cost from 14 per cent to less than 10 per cent of GDP, at par with international standards. The logistic park will be developed under the ‘hub and spoke’ model. Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that he was elated to witness the signing of MoU as it will provide seamless modal shift. MMLPs will ensure that cargo is swapped/shifted from and to waterways, dedicated freight corridors and road transport. The MMLP will act as 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. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Gen (Retd) V K Singh were amongst those present at the ceremony. See also: Ecom, what3words tie-up for efficient last-mile deliveries Intralogistics technology to be key focus area at IMHX 2022