UP Govt partners with Indian Railways to develop Multi-Modal Logistics Hubs, Enhance Industrial Connectivity

LUCKNOW : To strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s logistics ecosystem and establish it as an industrial powerhouse, Invest UP and Indian Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday at Lok Bhavan. The agreement was signed by Vijay Kiran Anand, CEO of Invest UP, and Rajneesh Kumar Srivastava, Senior Divisional Operations Manager, Lucknow Division.

Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh lauded the development, stating that robust connectivity is vital for industrial growth and efficient market access. He also recommended integrating available Railway land data into the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan Portal to simplify investor access to land-related information.

As per the MoU, at least one stage of raw material or finished goods transportation must be carried out via rail. To encourage private investment, the Indian Railways will offer its land to logistics and warehousing investors on a 35-year lease at just 1.5 per cent of the industrial or circle rate.

Invest UP CEO Vijay Kiran Anand highlighted that the state is leveraging its extensive 16,000 km railway network to develop a robust logistics framework. Key developments include a multi-modal logistics hub in Dadri and the country’s first freight village in Varanasi.

The initiative aligns with the Uttar Pradesh Warehousing and Logistics Policy 2022, which mandates a minimum investment of Rs 20 crore for warehouse projects, aiming to attract significant private sector participation.