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Uttar Pradesh government with the objective of strengthening the logistic infrastructure in the state is planning to set up a network of warehouses, cargo terminals and trucking hubs across the state.
Uttar Pradesh will be a major beneficiary of the two dedicated freight corridors that pass through the state, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
The DFC project was announced by the Congress led UPA government in 2005. The execution of the project was however taken up by the Narendra Modi government and both the corridor projects are likely to be completed by the end of this year.
A major section of the EDFC has been commissioned and as many as 154 trains — carrying bulk cargo, including coal, steel, cement and food grains, criss-crossed the newly-commissioned sections of the EDFC on a single day in last week of September.
The longest stretch of 938 km on the WDFC, between Dadri and Sanand in Gujarat, is also operational since September resulting in seamless freight transportation from the hinterland of UP to the western ports of India.
As of now, freight trains from Mumbai take three days to reach Delhi. Once all sections of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) are completed, this time will be reduced to 48 hours, ensuring a continuous flow of freight trains without the need to wait for tracks to clear, unlike the current situation.
UP government intends to develop the logistic infrastructure projects in the leading industrial pockets of the state and in the vicinity of expressways, including the upcoming Ganga Expressway.
Once completed the logistic project along with two DFC will make a huge contribution in boosting the exports from the state as well as achieving the ambitious target of taking the state’s economy to USD one trillion.
A committee under the transport commissioner has been constituted to evaluate private investment proposals for the setting up of the logistics network. Under the UP Warehousing & Logistics Policy, the government is offering an array of sops and financial incentives to private companies for the prospective investment.
“The government has drawn up a blueprint to nurture a connectivity web of air, water, road and rail network (in order) to ease logistics and facilitate industry to access the global and domestic markets,” said an official of the industries department.
The slew of infrastructure projects spanning expressways, industrial corridors and logistics are aimed at helping the state leverage its industrial and investment potential. Apart from being home to the largest network of national highways, UP leads in terms of expressways with nearly a dozen existing and upcoming ones.