Dubai-based logistics major DP World has signed an agreement with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to develop a new logistics hub at Powarkheda, positioning it as a rail-centric inland gateway connecting central India directly to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai.
The agreement was exchanged on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, in the presence of Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Designed to strengthen India’s multimodal logistics ecosystem, the Powarkheda Hub is expected to significantly enhance access to global markets for key districts such as Dhar, Indore and Raisen. These regions lie along central rail corridors and are home to diverse manufacturing and agricultural clusters.
Spread across 88.3 acres, the logistics hub will offer containerised rail connectivity to JNPA, enabling faster and more reliable export-import movement. In addition, the facility will provide domestic container rail services linking Madhya Pradesh with major consumption centres across the country. Integrated warehousing and cold storage infrastructure will support both agricultural and industrial supply chains.
According to DP World, the Powarkheda Hub will serve multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, aluminium and agri-commodities, while also supporting farmers, MSMEs and large manufacturers by reducing logistics costs and improving supply chain efficiency.
“The DP World Powarkheda Hub is designed to be an inland gateway that brings producers and manufacturers in central India closer to global markets. By integrating rail connectivity, warehousing, cold chain and cargo management in one location, we will help farmers, MSMEs and large industries reduce logistics costs, improve reliability, and compete more strongly in global trade corridors,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
The company added that the hub is expected to deliver a 30–40 per cent reduction in transit time to JNPA compared to road transport. The increased shift towards rail is also projected to improve reliability, lower carbon emissions and ease road congestion, aligning with India’s broader goals of sustainable and efficient logistics development.
With this initiative, DP World continues to expand its inland logistics footprint in India, reinforcing its strategy of building end-to-end supply chain solutions that connect production centres directly to global trade gateways.
