Momentum Jharkhand, the title of the state's avowed mission to attract big-ticket investments, could gain renewed impetus if the railway ministry's proposal to come up with freight logistics parks in Hatia and Bokaro bear fruition.
Divisional railway manager of Ranchi and Adra divisions Anshul Gupta said South Eastern Railway (SER) had forwarded a proposal to develop multi-modal logistics parks (MMLP) at Hatia and Bokaro to the Railway Board based on the freight density of the region.
Gupta explained that business houses were looking out for dedicated means of freight management. And MMLP would offer a broad range of services while moving products from one hub to another or to a retailer.
"Parks of this kind would not only cater to the needs of freight transport, but also warehousing. They would offer protective packaging, inventory control, order processing, and marketing, forecasting and other value-added services. MMLP is a refined form of a logistics park where various value added services are rendered in addition to rail and road transport," Gupta said.
The estimated cost of each park, he added, would be around Rs 15 crore.
The divisional railway manager said that if the proposal was accepted, it would take six months to come up.
Asked why they chose Hatia and Bokaro as the locations, Gupta said they were getting requests for such services from some big retail chains and business houses. "This suggest that the parks would be a profitable venture," he said.
Gupta said SER was considering a similar park at Burnpur, Asansol, under Adra division, but admitted that unlike in Hatia and Bokaro, land procurement could be an issue in Bengal.
Explaining the advantages of such freight logistics parks, the divisional railway manager said, "When a business house shifts semi-finished or finished products from one mode of transport to another, there is time loss and wastage in handling. With a multi-modal hub, cost of handling is less and processes become more streamlined and efficient."
Gupta, who holds dual charge of the two railway divisions, was in Ranchi on Friday to inaugurate a breast-feeding kiosk in the ladies waiting room of platform No. 1 of Ranchi Railway Station. He also promised more passenger amenities soon. "Lifts would be installed at Ranchi and Hatia soon, as orders had already been placed," he said.