The first Multi Modal Logistics Park (Phase-1) in Andhra Pradesh, established by the Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), was inaugurated by Waltair Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar at Viman Nagar, opposite Visakhapatnam International Airport, here on Friday.
Deputy Chairman of Visakhapatnam Port Trust G.V.L. Satya Kumar, Director (International Marketing and Operations) of CONCOR Yash Vardhan, Executive Director, CONCOR, V. Kalyana Rama Rao, Joint Commissioner of Customs M.S. Reddy, and CONCOR Senior General Manager G.R. Seshagiri Rao participated in the inaugural.
The container handling and storage facilities, being provided on 4 lakh sq. ft., besides a 50,000 sq. ft. temperature-controlled warehouse, would give a fillip to export and import trade as also domestic trade. It would provide seamless connectivity for transport of cargo to the hinterland.
In the first phase, facilities have been developed on a 10-acre site and additional facilities, including provision of railway infrastructure with five full-length lines for handling inward and outward rakes, would be developed in two years in an extent of 100 acres at an estimated cost of Rs.370 crore.
Describing the setting up of the MMLP as a “big day in the history of Visakhapatnam and the VPT,” Mr. Satya Kumar said though the VPT was identified as a hub port for container traffic four years ago, it had not happened so far due to lack of logistics infrastructure. He said the port had achieved 23.6 per cent growth in container traffic last year and the existing container terminal capacity was reaching its saturation point.
Mr. Anil Kumar expressed the view that the MMLP would help the Railways in regaining the freight traffic share it had lost to road transport over the years. The doubling of R-V line beyond Rayagada was progressing and doubling and electrification works were also being undertaken.
Mr. Yash Vardhan said this was the first MMLP in Andhra Pradesh and the greatest advantage was it was situated close to the airport and the seaport.
Another MMLP would be set up near Hyderabad and the target was to set up 15 MMLPs in the country.
