In news-The Centre has extended the concession period for its ambitious MMLPs scheme from 30 to 45 years.
About MMLPs scheme-
- It is a key policy initiative of the Government of India, led by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- NHLML is a special purpose vehicle set up by the NHAI.
- The programme focuses on optimising efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions such as economic corridors and multi-modal integration through roadways, logistic parks, ports, and ropeways among others.
- The Union road ministry has mandated NHLML to execute MMLPs and implement connectivity, including links to ports.
- MMLP is officially defined as a freight-handling facility with a minimum area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares), with various modes of transport access, mechanized warehouses, specialized storage solutions such as cold storage, facilities for mechanized material handling and inter-modal transfer container terminals, and bulk and break-bulk cargo terminals.
- Logistics parks will also provide value-added services such as customs clearance with bonded storage yards, quarantine zones, testing facilities, and warehousing management services
- Under Bharatmala Phase-I, the government has already planned 35 MMLPs of which the first ones will come up in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Bengaluru (Karnataka).
- Under the second phase of central scheme Bharatmala Pariyojana, the government has identified 11 locations across the country to set up MMLPs, taking the total number of such facilities in the country to 53.
