Operations of the country’s first Jalna dry port delayed

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The commencement of operations at the Jalna dry port, considered highly significant for the Marathwada region, has been delayed by about a month, according to senior sources. The delay is attributed to pending formalities, including obtaining the no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and completion of certain railway-related documents.

The dry port at Jalna was expected to become operational from April. Once functional, it will enable industrialists and farmers from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna and other districts of Marathwada to export their goods more efficiently. Goods worth approximately Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 crore are exported annually from the region. At present, these goods are transported by containers and trucks to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai, where customs clearance is carried out before export. Exporting through JNPT often poses several challenges for entrepreneurs.

Considering these issues, a decision was taken in 2014 to set up a dry port near Jalna city over 400 acres. The construction of the facility has now been completed. Essential infrastructure has been developed over 64 acres, including a dedicated railway line from Dinegaon to the dry port. The facility also houses a customs office, enabling direct dispatch of goods to ships via rail or containers. This dry port is expected to be a major boost for the Marathwada region. Operations of the facility have been entrusted to the private company Vikas Coal for a period of 15 years.

“The delay in operations is due to pending NOC from the local pollution control board and completion of certain railway-related documents. The dry port will become operational in the next few days once these formalities are completed,” said Vikas Malik, senior officer, MMLP.