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    India’s first international multi-modal logistic park to come up in Assam's Jogighopa

    Synopsis

    The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has entrusted NHIDCL with the work of development of a Multimodal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Jogigopha in Bongaigaon district under the Bharatmala Pariyojna. The Government of Assam has approved transfer of 200 Acres of land belonging to Ashok Paper Mill (APM) for the project in pursuance of the decision of the Cabinet.

    jogihopa
    A formal MoU signing ceremony between NHIDCL and Ashok Paper Mills will be organised in the presence of the Chief minister, Minister Industries & Commerce and other dignitaries on October 20, 2020.
    GUWAHATI: The Multi Modal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Jogighopa in Assam is the country’s first international Multi-Modal Logistic Park under the Bharatmala Project of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India.

    The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has entrusted NHIDCL with the work of development of a Multimodal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Jogigopha in Bongaigaon district under the Bharatmala Pariyojna. The Government of Assam has approved transfer of 200 Acres of land belonging to Ashok Paper Mill (APM) for the project in pursuance of the decision of the Cabinet.

    A formal MoU signing ceremony between NHIDCL and Ashok Paper Mills will be organised in the presence of the Chief minister, Minister Industries & Commerce and other dignitaries on October 20, 2020.

    Designed as a state of art facility, MMLP Jogighopa is project envisioned to drive economic growth and trade competitiveness of the country through a truly integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable and cost-effective logistics network. It is aimed to improve the logistics efficiency and facilitate the Domestic and Export-Import trade in the region.

    According to the state government the proposed area of 200 acres site has been identified by the Government of Assam, belonging to the Ashok Paper Mills. The project site has a vantage location and will offer multi modal connectivity through rail, road, and waterways to the states in the North East region and beyond. MMLP Jogighopa is also linked to the Eastern-Western Corridor via the Tulungia- Hapachara Highway, a project awarded for improvement to a 4-lane highway.

    The MMLP is proposed to be developed in two phases, and shall be led by a Special Purpose vehicle that includes members from Government of Assam, NHIDCL and Ashok Paper Mills. Development of 102 acres of the Logistics park along with the external road and rail connectivity between Logistic park and IWT and development of remaining 88 acres of the logistics park and 40 acres of IWT.

    The Jogighopa MMLP project is the first among 35 such MMLP projects identified for implementation across the country and the only one that will be funded completely by the Government of India.Development of a Multi Modal Logistics Park over 190 acres of land at the Ashok Paper Mill site in Jogighopa. Developing a network of external roads and create rail connectivity to and from the MMLP and between the MMLP and the Inland Water Terminal. Developing 40 acres of land of the Inland Water Terminal (IWT).

    The total project cost of Phase I is Rs. 693.07 crore. Phase II is in project preparation stage and the project cost is yet to be finalized.

    Historically Assam and the North Eastern Region used to have a very vibrant trade activity with the neighbouring countries. The region had multi-modal transportation networks (i.e. roadways, railways and riverine waterways) through the territories which are now Bangladesh and Myanmar. But following our independence and the unfortunate partition, these links got disrupted and the region became landlocked.

    State government added that these disrupted links are gradually being restored under the Act East Policy. Thus after 70 odd years, protocol and SOP have been signed and now vessels from North East can travel to Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh. The Asian Trilateral Highway is being developed from Moreh in Manipur via Myanmar to Mae Sot in Thailand – eventually linking us to ASEAN countries up to Malaysia and Singapore on one hand, and Vietnam on the other. Besides, the Kaladan Project shall be giving us an additional access to the sea at Sittwe Port of Myanmar.

    Government stated the underdeveloped logistics has over the years been the root cause of delays in business and transportation of finished products. "Lack of proper logistics facility has hindered the growth of export and import of products from the State. In fact, our fresh fruits and vegetables have tremendous scope in the international market. Being perishable, these get damaged before we can export and market these items even in the domestic circuit beyond the North East".

    State government added the Park will enhance our capacity of using the raw materials in a proper way to tap the potentiality of the 80 crore strong market of ASEAN and BBN bloc countries and gradually reach out to the world market. “For development of inland waterways and ports on the major rivers of Assam, we are dredging our rivers for outlet through Bangladesh. Barak has already been dredged, while the dredging of Brahmaputra is on. The Hub will help in increased use of waterways for internal and external trade. The Park with an initial investment of Rs. 693.97 crores, and an overall investment of Rs. 3,000 crores will generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youths of the state. The ancillary and downstream industries, townships and markets in the vicinity of the Logistic Park will generate a lot of economic activity”.


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