Indore top choice for logistics biz

INDORE: Easy road and air connectivity coupled with availability of land have made Indore , Dewas and Bhopal the most favoured destinations for setting up logistics hub, suggests the huge number of proposals that state government has been receiving.

The government has made logistics as one of the focus sectors in investors’ summit while a sectoral policy on eight sectors is most likely to be cleared by cabinet on Tuesday.

According to industry department, state has received over 30 investment proposals for setting up warehousing and logistics hub of which a lot of them have asked for land near Indore, Dewas, Bhopal and surrounding areas.

A source wishing anonymity said, “These areas already have a lot of presence of logistics and warehousing. The work for materializing proposals has already started and announcements on new projects will be made public on the day of summit.”

Government claims to have received 34 proposals worth Rs 12,000 crore so far and the number may increase.

The state government hopes to attract encouraging investment in logistics and warehousing. Post Goods and Services Tax (GST), state has become a strategic central location for manufacturers and suppliers to ship goods to any part of the country.

Some of the key logistics players already active in state are Blue Dart, Concor, All Cargo Logistics and Gati.

Ashok Khandelia, president, Association of Industries Dewas said, “Indore is central place in India. After GST it is easy to transfer goods from manufacturing units to some other place to consumers and suppliers. If logistic develop in state, it will be easy for industries to get raw materials while jobs will also increase.”

Industrialists said warehousing may also increase the business prospects for e-commerce companies in the state.

Industrialists said presence of inland container depots (ICDs) in state makes supplies of goods easier at ports and makes exports viable.

The state has seven ICDs located at Malanpur, Ratlam , Mandideep, Pithampur, Pawarkheda, Tihi and Dhannad while an international air cargo facility has also been made available at Indore.