Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday inaugurated the Godam Logistics Park on Amravati Road, commissioning one of Central India's largest integrated logistics parks. Gadkari emphasized that the park will help Nagpur cement its position as an emerging national logistics hub. Fadnavis noted that Nagpur requires at least 20 more such parks, highlighting that every park inaugurated so far was fully booked on the very first day.
Strategic Location and Logistics Potential
Gadkari highlighted Nagpur's central geographic location, stating that the city is the natural choice for investments in the logistics sector. "Nagpur is the Zero Mile of the country. Now, Nagpur is also the logistics capital. It is located at the centre of the Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata quadrilateral. Naturally, big companies from across the country are considering Nagpur for their logistics plants," he said.
Reducing Logistics Costs
Gadkari pointed out that India's logistics costs currently stand at 16% of GDP, compared to 8% for China and 12% for European countries. He cited a joint study by IIM-Bangalore, IIT-Chennai, and IIT-Kanpur, which showed that costs have already dropped by 6%. "I believe our logistics cost has definitely come at par with China," Gadkari said, attributing the reduction to highway expansion and lower fuel consumption. He also advised the Godam team to install fast electric charging stations powered by solar energy at the park, stating, "The environment will be protected, and your cost effectiveness will increase further."
State Government's Mega Logistics Policy
Fadnavis announced that the state government has formulated a new mega logistics policy aligned with the central Gati Shakti plan, giving Nagpur a prominent position. "The biggest challenge facing our manufacturing sector today is logistics cost," he said, adding that India needs globally competitive logistics to capture the shifting global supply chain. The CM noted that the policy has received a positive response from investors. "I am very happy that the entrepreneurs accepted this policy well and have started investing in the sector," Fadnavis added.
Vadhvan Port and Future Connectivity
Fadnavis mentioned that the Vadhvan Port being built in Konkan would be three times larger than JNPT. It is expected to open its first terminal by 2028 or early 2029, bringing Nagpur within eight hours of a world-class port.
Industry Perspectives
Godam Logistics directors Mahavir Jain, KK Gupta, and Rajan Agarwal described the facility as more than a warehousing cluster. "Warehouse logistics is not just a group of warehouses, but also an important link in the supply chain. The Integrated Logistics Policy and Single Window System not only made our entire work easier but also created an important ecosystem for the industrial development of entire Maharashtra," Jain said.
