TIRUCHY: The central and state governments have given in-principle approval for establishing a Multi Modal Logistics Hub (MMLH/Dry Port) in Tiruchy, with the Tamil Nadu government set to commence a detailed study through the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) for developing the facility, Tiruchy MP Durai Vaiko said on Saturday.
Addressing reporters, Durai Vaiko said the latest development was reflected in a letter written by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on August 24. “In the letter, the CM said the TN government had already taken a policy decision to establish an MMLH in Tiruchy and that a detailed study for developing the facility would shortly be commenced by TIDCO,” the MP said.
The letter stated that Tiruchy, located in the central region of Tamil Nadu, has a large number of manufacturing and agro-processing industries in its vicinity, besides strong industrial and agricultural connectivity. The city also has an international airport, and establishing a MMLH would strengthen the export ecosystem of the region. The proposed MMLH would also take advantage of Tiruchy’s strategic location in relation to key seaports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the letter said. Durai Vaiko said the chief minister’s letter was the latest development in the proposal and came after an official communication he received from Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on August 20 which stated that once a project proposal was received from the state government, it would be examined expeditiously for notification for Customs operations in accordance with the Customs Act, 1962, and the consolidated guidelines issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on the approval criteria for setting up Inland Container Depots.
The MP said the proposed dry port would also benefit industries and exporters in Karur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukkottai and Thanjavur. It would help reduce transportation and cargo-handling costs, improve the international competitiveness of exporters and facilitate faster and efficient movement of goods to seaports. The project could also help attract new industrial investments, create employment opportunities and strengthen Tiruchy and central Tamil Nadu as an industrial and logistics hub, he said.
Durai Vaiko also urged the state government to complete the TIDCO study, identify a suitable location and submit the project proposal to the Centre at the earliest. Speaking to TNIE, he said a minimum of 20 acres would be required for the project, but if land was available, up to 100 acres could be acquired, considering the scope for future expansion.
N Kanagasabapathy, president of the Export Import Federation Trichy, said the federation had been pursuing the dry port project since 2019. He said Tiruchy has potential to emerge as an important export hub. “From our region alone, we expect more than 50 containers of export cargo every month,” he said.
Features of proposed dry port:
* Container-handling facilities
* Warehousing facilities
* Cold-chain facilities
* Temperature-controlled facilities
* Truck terminal
* Cargo consolidation facilities
* Distribution hubs
* Customs clearance facilities
PORT CONNECTIVITY OF MMLH
Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Kamarajar, Kattupalli and VOC Thoothukudi
Kerala: Cochin and Vizhinjam
