Page 16 - ITLN Jan-Feb 2023 for Magzter

Industry Report
Multimodal
Logistics Parks

will help in bringing the logistics complete engagement process with
costs down from the present 13-14 all stakeholders like manufacturers,
percent of India's GDP to 8-10 percent, logistics service providers, service
a benchmark achieved by developed users and regulators, which is expected
economies such as Japan and the EU. to bring in significant efficiencies in
“While these MMLPs will have logistics infrastructure,” he said.
excellent connectivity, they will also He also notes that these
provide state-of-the-art, value- locations are identified based on city
added services such as international infrastructure with regard to highways,
grade warehousing, cold storage, rail etc, outside high traffic perimeter
packaging and sorting areas, product and access to all stakeholders.
assembly clusters, a commercial “MMLP will serve as a major cargo
zone, and a dedicated customs window consolidation and distribution hub for
to accommodate a wide range of cities enabling line haul movements
businesses and cargo consignments of The sheer scale of of large loads through road, railways,
various sizes,” he said. the policy and the airports and to last mile distribution within
Magazine also puts out a vision sector’s long-pending the city and regional areas,” he added.
of how these massive facilities will challenges may Meanwhile, Chokshi thinks that
operate. “It would serve as a gateway demand time to realise the MMLPs will drive efficient storage
for transhipment, consolidation, and transitioning of goods to and from
and distribution, allowing hub and benefits significantly. dedicated freight corridors.
spoke advantages to be realised. Soham Chokshi “These MMLPs will be built
Moreover, one of this ecosystem's most Shipsy strategically to harness lesser-explored
significant benefits will be creating over and more cost-efficient modes of
2 lakh job opportunities in the coming goods transportation, such as inland
years,” he added. commodities are transported by road due waterways, railways, pipelines, etc.,
He also thinks that MMLPs are the to inefficiencies in rail transit,” he said. apart from the roadways that currently
solution to India’s logistical inefficiencies. Baskar believes that MMLPs will help propagate over three-fourths of freight
Currently, more than 70 percent of the the industry to focus and move their movement of the country. For instance,
national cargo moves through roads and manufacturing cluster closer towards freight carriage rates for railways are
national highways causing pollution and these MMLPs and build a strong supply much lesser than for roads. But lack
stress on the roads. chain ecosystem, thereby building a of direct connectivity to manufacturing
“Though trains are still the cheapest competitive advantage. units and warehouses, delays, poor
route to move products, costing 45 “MMLPs at the strategic locations visibility over goods movement, etc.,
percent less per tonne per kilometre will enable intermodal freight incline businesses to leverage road
than the road, three-fourths of all movement, this will help build a transportation,” he said.
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