A flagship multimodal logistics project near Nagpur — once hailed as a game-changer for Central India’s freight network — has hit turbulence. The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has terminated its contract with UK-based Delta Corp Holdings, the firm tasked with developing the Nagpur Multimodal Logistics Park (NMLP), also known as the Sindi Dry Port.
Delta Corp, which had secured the project in 2023 under a 45-year contract worth over ₹360 crore, has now taken the legal route to challenge the termination.
The total project cost was pegged at over ₹660 crore, aimed at transforming 150 acres on the Nagpur-Wardha border into a major logistics and warehousing hub.
Where Things Went Wrong
According to sources, the UK developer failed to meet stage-wise development milestones, prompting NHLML (a subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India) to first issue a show-cause notice, followed by a final termination order. The project reportedly suffered significant time overruns, leading the agency to step in.
With the termination now formalised, NHLML is preparing to re-tender the project, and could even take over the execution directly if suitable bids don’t emerge.
A Project Too Strategic to Stall
The Sindi Dry Port is more than just a warehousing site. Conceived as part of PM Gati Shakti initiative, it’s designed to connect inland freight seamlessly to major seaports, operating under the hub-and-spoke model to cut logistics costs and boost multimodal efficiency.
The facility was envisioned to house state-of-the-art warehouses, cargo terminals, and value-added logistics infrastructure, creating a pivotal transit node for manufacturers and exporters across Central India.
The Stakes Ahead
Given the project’s significance and its close association with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s infrastructure vision for the region, NHLML is racing against time to ensure the plan doesn’t lose momentum. Fresh tenders are likely to be floated soon, even as Delta Corp pursues its legal challenge.
For now, the ambitious dry port that promised to reshape India’s logistics landscape stands at a crossroads, awaiting clarity on who will drive it forward.