AMARAVATI: In a big move to attract more investments in logistics sector, the state government has decided to grant industry status to the units set up in the logistics sector. The state government has decided to increase the storage capacity in godowns and cold-storages by four times by 2027.
After making a comprehensive study, the state government has readied plans to double infrastructure available in the logistics sector in next three years. The additional infrastructure including getting the national highways, completion of ports and new railway lines are expected to attract huge investments in the logistics sector.
“It is a strategic move to recognise the sector as industry as it will help the entrepreneurs to set their foot with new investments with the support of bankers. They will get all the incentives under new industrial policy,” said industries minister Gudivada Amarnath.
The existing capacity of the godowns in the state is around 13.5 lakh metric tonnes. The state government wanted to take the storage space to about 56 lakh metric tonnes with nearly 400 percent increase in a span of just five years.
The state government identified that there is huge demand for storage space in Vijayawada, Nellore, Tirupati and Kakinada. The plans are afoot to identify the land in these locations for allotment to the industries in the warehouse sector. “Availability of land at cheaper prices is going to play a big role in attracting the investments particularly in land locked cities like Vijayawada,” said a senior official of industries department.
Similarly, the state government has decided to spare land for setting up of cold chain systems close to the upcoming ports and fishing harbours. The government is anticipating that the capacity of cold storages will be doubled from the existing 15.6 lakh tonnes in the next three years.
AP Maritime board is spending close to Rs.20,000 crore on development of fishing harbours and ports in the state which is going to change the fortunes of marine sector. About four new ports and nine fishing harbours were coming up in the state to make AP as best destination for marine industry.
