India's First Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Jogighopa Nears Completion, Reports MoRTH

India's pioneering Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Jogighopa, Assam, is approaching completion, with full operational readiness expected by next year, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) annual report for 2023-24. Despite facing multiple delays due to operational challenges, the project is now back on track.

The Jogighopa MMLP is the first of 35 such parks planned across India, fully funded by the government and executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL). The MoRTH report highlights significant progress in the construction of key infrastructure, including road, rail, and water connectivity, site leveling, boundary work, and the development of administrative buildings and waste treatment facilities.

The procurement process for developers on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis is also underway. These developers will be responsible for creating and managing logistics facilities like business centers, container yards, warehouses, and cold storage units.

The first phase of the Jogighopa MMLP, with an estimated cost of ₹693.97 crore, saw its foundation stone laid by Minister Nitin Gadkari in October 2020. MoRTH finalized the Model Concessionaire Agreement (MCA) for these logistics parks under the Bharatmala Pariyojana in October 2021, followed by the Model RFP document in November 2021, which will guide the development of all MMLPs.

MoRTH's broader plan to develop 35 MMLPs across India under the Bharatmala Pariyojana is projected to cost around ₹46,000 crore. Once operational, these parks are expected to handle approximately 700 million metric tons of cargo. Fifteen of these MMLPs have been prioritized, with six already awarded, including sites in Jogighopa, Chennai, Indore, Bengaluru, Nagpur, and Jalna.

Looking ahead, MoRTH plans to sanction seven additional MMLPs in the 2024-25 period, with bids already invited for projects in Anantapur, Pune, and Nashik. The Jogighopa MMLP serves as a cornerstone project in the government’s strategy to bolster India’s logistics infrastructure.