MP Global Investors Summit: Bina, Katni to have logistics hubs

The Madhya Pradesh government will set up two logistics hubs, in Bina and Katni, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon global investors to invest in these areas. The hubs will have facilities such as a dry port, a cold chain and warehouse, a truck hub and railway siding.

"Each project would cost Rs 200 crore and will be developed in public-private partnership mode," Ashok Kumar Bernwal, principal secretary, food and civil supplies department, told Business Standard.

Another logistics hub is planned at Ujjain but the land acquired there is under dispute. Therefore, the hub is likely to be shifted to Ratlam, known for food products and gold jewellery.

A logistics hub is being developed at Itarsi through a private sector initiative on 116 acres, with an investment of about Rs 150 crore.

Like Bina and Katni, which are key railway junctions, Itarsi also has a locational advantage.

The state government will shortly float tenders for appointing a consultant for the Bina and Katni logistics hubs, while the Itarsi hub will be ready in a few months.

Bina has a plant of Bharat Oman Oil Refinery. Katni has a large number of cement manufacturing units and building stone and tiles manufacturers.

The state has three dry ports in Pithampur (Indore), Malanpur (Gwalior) and Mandideep (Bhopal), operated by Container Corporation of India.