August 8, 2024 7:29 AM.
The Maharashtra government has approved Logistics Policy 2024 proposing to set up more than 200 logistics parks, complexes, and truck terminals with integrated facilities, which is expected to generate approximately 5,00,000 new job opportunities.
Harshdeep Kamble, Principal Secretary, Industries Department said key objectives of the policy include developing more than 10,000 acres of dedicated logistics infrastructure, 25 district logistic nodes, five regional logistic hubs, and as many state logistic hubs, a national logistics hub, and an international logistics hub.
Mr. Kamble said hi-tech logistics will be especially incentivised for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), BlockChain technology, robotics, automation, IoT, digitisation, drone, and fintech results in creating tech-savvy jobs for the local youths.
The term ‘logistics’ refers to the process of acquisition, storage and delivery of resources to their intended location. It is an integral part of the supply chain process that ensures the efficient flow of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption.
The Maharashtra policy incorporates the ‘Integrated Logistics Master Plan’, which focuses on optimum utilisation of existing and upcoming logistics networks, strengthening logistics infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity. Under it, dedicated logistics infrastructure will be developed on more than 10,000 acres in the state by 2029.
The projects include an international mega logistics hub to be developed in the Navi Mumbai-Pune region on 2,000 acres of land, which will also be connected to the new international airport at Panvel. This will help in making the area a major international trade and industry centre due to its proximity to various industrial estates. A budget of ₹1,500 crore will be allocated for this development.
A national mega logistics hub will be established on a 1,500-acre plot in Nagpur-Wardha under the policy, which will be connected to the Samruddhi Mahamarg or Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. Nagpur’s central geographical location and existing transport infrastructure make it favourable for logistics development. A sum of ₹1,500 crore will be allocated for its development.
Another set of five state logistics hubs, each covering 500 acres, will be set up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Jalna, Thane-Bhiwandi, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Pune-Purandar and Palghar-Wadhawan. A total of ₹2,500 crore will be allocated for them.
Five regional logistics hubs covering 300 acres each will be established in Nanded-Degloor, Amravati-Badnera, Kolhapur-Ichalkaranji, Nashik-Sinnar and Dhule-Shirpur under the policy, for which an allocation of ₹1,500 crore will be earmarked.