The dry port near Jalna is among several key projects across the country that will be inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
The facility — a joint-venture between Navi Mumbai-based Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the National Highway Authority of India — has now been named as multi-modal cargo terminal and is expected to provide much-needed help to the multi-crore steel industry in Jalna, besides offering other benefits.
Jalna Steel Manufacturing Association said the dry port is expected to be a shot in the arm for the businesses having a collective turnover of around Rs 25,000 crore.
“We expect huge savings in terms of time and money. The facility will broaden the horizons of our business with markets getting opened all across the country,” association member and managing director of Icon Steel Dinesh Rathi said.
Based around 10km from Jalna at Dinagaon, the project is part of the Gati Shakti Multi-modal Cargo Terminal Policy of the Railway Board that aims to offer a push to investment from industry in setting up cargo terminals.
A senior official from the south central railway (SCR) said the facility is expected to carry the load of cargo movement involving scrap iron, iron ore and finished iron along with cotton bales and other agricultural products. “To begin with, the facility has two rail-level platforms and three rail lines among other infrastructure. The work of the Electronic In-Motion Weighbridge is also in progress,” the official said.
The official added that a revenue of Rs 1.8 crore to Rs 2.5 crore per month is expected from the multi-modal cargo terminal in Jalna that will also facilitate coordination among different means of transport.
Spread over 182 hectare, the facility has a financial outlay of nearly Rs 300 crore.
