The exporters of Baddi industrial belt in Himachal Pradesh can look forward to a smooth movement of goods with the Container Corporation of India (Concor) setting up an inland container depot (ICD) at village Sheetalpur in Baddi. With Concor already having started the work for the first phase, the platform is expected to be functional by March 2010. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Himachal Pradesh government and Concor in 2008 end and the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 53 crore. The depot will help the industrialists in saving the freight charges as well as ensure timely delivery of consignment.
Talking to FE about the current status of the project, a Concor official said, ?The first phase is likely to catalyse an investment of around Rs 10-15 crore. Work is on full swing to develop the warehouses, administrative buildings and setting up basic infrastructure facilities. The state government has to undertake riverside protection work to control floods. We are confident of completing the work on time.?
As per industry department estimates goods worth around Rs 700 crore are exported out of Baddi region per year. The depot once fully functional will facilitate import-export of goods by local industrialists. Sudhir Sharma, deputy director Industries, Baddi told FE that the state government has transferred about 86 bighas (approx.18 acres) of government land valued at about Rs. 16 crore to Concor at a nominal lease of Re. 1 per acre per annum for a period of 95 years. The government is also negotiating with the farmers to acquire land for widening of roads leading to the depot. Moreover the extension of railway link till Baddi will further facilitate the import-export process.?
However initially the depot will function as container freight station till the time the location gets connected with the broad gauge railway line. Once the railway link comes up the same would be converted into inland container depot. The center has already approved the Chandigarh-Baddi new broad gauge rail link project with an estimated cost of Rs 750 crore having a length of 33.75 kilometre. But due to some land acquisition problems in the original route, the railways ministry is studying an alternate route for the project.
?Not only will the depot facilitate handling and clearance of goods of the local industrialists but it will also be instrumental in development of more export oriented industrial units in the region. And with the industrial package getting extension of one more year new multinational companies are expected to invest in the state,? said Sharma.