Nitin Gadkari : Nashik has potential to emerge as logistics capital

NASHIK : Addressing an event organised by the Nashik District Transporters’ Association (NDTA), Shri Nitin Gadkari said the government was developing infrastructure for the faster movement of goods and this provides an opportunity for people to come up with facilities that will help trade.

Taking about Nashik’s central location on the route connecting Kashmir and Kanyakumari, Union minister of road transport and highways said with the developments of cold storages, silos and logistical parks, Nashik should emerge as the logistics capital.

“The Surat-Chennai greenfield corridor is passing through Nashik. It will eliminate the need for vehicles to travel through the congested parts of Mumbai. With the Nagpur – Mumbai Expressway also passing through the district, Nashik has become an interesting place for the development of logistics. If the transport association here takes the lead, Nashik can become the logistics capital,” said Gadkari.

Gadkari said cold storage and silo systems for food storage must be developed in Nashik, and public-private participation in this sector is required.

“Bhiwandi in Thane district is a logistical hub. The one in Nashik can serve the purpose of not only transporting industrial goods to the southern and northern states but also agricultural and pharma products,” said Gadkari.

The central location of Nashik will help reduce fuel costs and transportation time as the two major expressways are available for the faster movement of freight. This will ensure that agricultural produce reaches the markets in good shape.

The Union minister reiterated that the government was focusing on reducing logistics costs from the current 16% to below 9%