Jogighopa: The foundation stone for India's first multi-modal logistic park (MMLP) was laid at Jogighopa in Assam by Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Developed under the Central government's Bharatmala Pariyojana, the estimated cost of the park is Rs 693.97 crore.
The virtual function was presided over by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The event was attended by Union ministers of state Gen (Retd) VK Singh, Dr Jitendra Singh, and Rameshwar Teli; other ministers from Assam, MPs, MLAs and senior officers from the Centre and the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that his ministry aims to develop 35 multi-modal logistics park in the country. The work on preparing DPR and feasibility report is in progress. "SPVs will be formed for all these MMLPs, and professionally qualified CEOs will be appointed for each separately. The first such MMLP is being made by NHIDCL in Jogighopa of Assam, which will be connected to road, rail, air and waterways," he added.
Discussing about the park at Jogighopa, Gadkari said that it is being developed in 317-acre land along the Brahmaputra. The work will begin next month and the first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by the year 2023. He further informed that works worth Rs 280 crore have already been awarded. This includes Rs 171 crore for road construction, Rs 87 crore for erecting the structure, and Rs 23 crore for rail lines.
The project will provide direct or indirect employment to nearly 20 lakh youth in Assam, hopes Gadkari. A four-lane road will cover the distance of 154 km between Jogighopa and Guwahati. A 3-km rail line will connect Jogighopa station to the MMLP, and another 3-km rail link will connect it to the IWT. The road to newly constructed Rupsi Airport in Dhubri and Kokrajhar district of Assam will be upgraded to 4-lanes for better connectivity.
MMLP will have facilities like petrol pumps, truck parking, administrative building, warehouse, railway siding, cold storage, boarding lodging, eating joints, custom clearance house, yard facility, workshops, and water treatment plant.