In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) is developing 35 Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs).
Out of the 35 MMLPs, 15 MMLPs are prioritized in the next three years.
MoRTH has made significant progress under this National Master Plan and embarking on the same, MMLP Chennai at Mappedu, being developed in 184.27 acres is the first MMLP.
It is awarded to Reliance Industries Limited, for which Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone on 26 May 2022.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was launched in October 2021. It brings 16 union ministries together, including MoRTH and aimed at improving multi-modal connectivity and last mile connectivity across the country.
Further, in order to make the industry more efficient and resilient, National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched in 2022 which focuses on these two key areas — Effective integration between different agencies in the logistics ecosystem and deploying and embracing newer technologies to smoothen the process flow.
Pioneering the pace of building a countrywide state-of-the-art multi-modal infrastructure, MMLPs by MoRTH also lays the foundation of development of such large-scale projects in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for which both the central government and state government have come together.
A government Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is also formed amongst National Highways Logistics Management Limited, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Chennai Port Authority & Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation.
The estimated project cost is Rs 1,424 crore. The total concession period is 45 years.
The SPV will provide a 4-lane National Highway (NH) connectivity of 5.4 km with estimated cost of Rs 104 crore and a new rail siding to the MMLP site of about 10.5 km with an estimated cost of Rs 217 crore.
The MMLP will be developed in three phases with estimated developer investment of Rs 783 crore. Phase-1 development is targeted within two years, by 2025, leading to commercial operations.
MMLP Chennai which is strategically located at 52 km from Chennai Port, 80 km from Ennore Port, 87 km from Kattupalli Airport, will be a focal point of logistics in the southern region.
It is estimated to cater to 7.17 Million Metric Tonne (MMT) cargo in a horizon period of 45 years.