Concor plans nine logistics parks in Odisha

Container Corporation of India (Concor), a blue-chip, mini-ratna Central PSU has unveiled its big plans for Odisha. The logistics solutions provider is keen on setting up multi-modal logistics parks in nine key industrial hubs of the state.

The new logistics parks are set to come up at Jharsuguda, Angul, Paradeep, Dhamara, Kalinganagar, Gopalpur, Rayagada, Balasore and Rourkela.

“Each of these logistics parks would need 30 acres of land and the investment in the range of Rs 50-100 crore. Each park would generate indirect employment for around 3,000 people. The establishment of logistics parks would give a big boost to the state's industrial competitiveness,” a top government official told Business Standard.

The logistic parks will include facilities like warehouses, distribution centres, storage areas, offices, truck services, parking lots, truck terminals, container rail terminal, container handling facilities, cold storages, distribution centers, air cargo points, lorries, maintenance points, service stations, hospitals and restaurants. In addition, such parks would be equipped with weighbridges, telecommunication facilities, banks, health awareness units and recreation centres.

The logistics parks to be developed on the public private partnership (PPP) mode, would be served by roads, railways, inland water ways and air ways.

To ensure that such parks are taken up on a priority basis, the Chief Secretary B K Patnaik had urged the commerce & transport department to expedite the process of land identification for the purpose.

Meanwhile, the commerce & transport department has gone ahead with the process of alienation of land for establishment of logistics parks at Bhutmundei near Paradeep and Kansbahal near Rourkela. Besides, the collectors of Angul, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Jharsuguda have been asked to specify the land for development of such parks.

Besides logistics parks, Concor is also planning to set up its cold chain infrastructure in the state. Initially, the logistics provider wants to set up three such cold chain facilities in the state for storage of green vegetables and other perishable food products. It is also keen on having a dedicated cold storage unit at Bolangir in western Odisha.