Bhopal, April 10 (NationPress) During a visit to the ambitious Multimodal Logistics Park—a project worth an impressive 1,200 crore rupees located in the Pithampur industrial zone, approximately 30 kilometers from Indore—Union Minister for Roads and Highways Nitin Gadkari acknowledged the significant potential for advancement and progress.

The Minister stated: “The world is currently alive with discussions. Due to the tariffs set by the US, new avenues of opportunity have emerged for us, allowing India to broaden its trade and enhance its exports globally.”

He further pointed out a critical issue—the high logistics costs in India, which range from 14 to 16 percent, in contrast to 8 percent in China and 12 percent in Western nations.

Recognizing the disadvantage this creates for India’s competitive edge in international markets, the Union Minister expressed optimism that the establishment of logistics parks, multimodal facilities, and related infrastructure projects nationwide would significantly lower these costs and fortify India’s standing in trade.

Expanding on this vision, he revealed that the first phase of the logistics park in Pithampur, covering an impressive 255 acres, is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months.

This facility, he asserted, will not only elevate trade and exports in the Malwa-Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh but also decrease logistics expenses and contribute to the economic growth of the area.

The minister also commended Madhya Pradesh’s status in organic farming, highlighting that the state generates nearly 40 percent of the national organic output, with the Malwa-Nimar region alone accounting for 75 percent of the state’s total production.

He laid the groundwork for a railway siding at the Pithampur logistics park.

This railway connection, he elaborated, will facilitate the agricultural products from the Malwa-Nimar area to access major ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru in Mumbai, along with Kandla and Mundra in Gujarat, both in a more cost-effective and quicker manner.

Moreover, he shared plans to secure government approvals for inspecting containers directly at the Pithampur site. This would enable goods to be transported directly to ports by rail and swiftly loaded onto vessels for international trade.

In a poetic analogy, the minister compared this development to “bringing Mumbai’s sea to Pithampur.”