Punjab has consistently secured top positions in the LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) ranking, thanks to its strong infrastructure and seamless connectivity that enable both national and international trade. The State’s focus on building robust industrial ecosystems is propelling it toward becoming a key logistics and manufacturing hub in North India.
Current Industrial Infrastructure in Punjab
A. Industrial Corridors: Enabling Long-Term Industrial Growth
Industrial infrastructure forms the backbone of economic development. Punjab is actively strengthening this backbone through well-planned industrial corridors, aligning with national initiatives and leveraging its strategic location.
Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC):
Planned along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), AKIC is a major initiative to transform regions such as Rajpura, Sirhind, Doraha, Sahnewal, and Ludhiana into industrial hubs. Key land parcels have already been identified, and a 2-km stretch on both sides of key expressways and highways (outside municipal limits) is earmarked for logistics infrastructure development.
In addition, the State is pursuing the development of intra-state industrial corridors, including:
- Chandigarh-Amritsar Corridor: Strengthening existing industrial clusters and developing new Industrial Parks and Townships.
- Chandigarh-Hoshiarpur-Gurdaspur Corridor: A strategic initiative to boost economic activity in the Kandi and Border Areas.
- Chandigarh-Patiala-Sangrur-Bathinda Corridor: Focused on accelerating industrial growth in the Malwa region and generating employment opportunities.
- Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway: A priority corridor under the Bharatmala scheme, this expressway links Punjab with key western ports through Rajasthan and Gujarat, fostering trade connectivity.
- Amritsar-Katra Expressway (Delhi-Amritsar-Katra): Part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, this 650-km expressway connects Delhi with Jammu via Punjab, enabling seamless freight movement.
- Economic Corridors along Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej): The State is exploring canalisation and construction of express corridors along major rivers to open new avenues for investment and job creation.
B. Rail Freight Corridor: Fast-Tracking Goods Movement
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), starting from Sahnewal (Ludhiana), is a game-changer in freight logistics. Spanning 88 km within Punjab, this electrified corridor will integrate seamlessly with the Western DFC at Dadri (UP), providing unmatched access to western and eastern ports including Mundra, JNPT, and Kolkata.
Key Features:
- Total Length: 1,856 km (including 88 km in Punjab)
- Punjab stations include: New Chawapail, New Khanna, New Mandi Gobindgarh, New Sirhind, New Saraibanjara, and New Shambhu
- Supports transportation of coal, ores, cement, fertilizers, steel, food grains, and general goods
- Reduces road congestion by shifting freight to rail
C. Storage, Warehousing, and Transportation: Strengthening the Supply Chain
Punjab has a robust network of ICDs (Inland Container Depots) and CFSs (Container Freight Stations) in key industrial areas such as Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar, and Ahmadgarh. Notable facilities include:
- ICDs by PSWC, CONCOR, Adani Logistics, Pristine Logistics, and Hind Terminals
- Private Freight Terminals (PFTs) operational in Sanhewal, Ahmadgarh, Chawapail, Kila Raipur, and Nabha
- Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Attari and Dera Baba Nanak, and Land Customs Station (LCS) at Attari Rail
- Air Cargo Complexes (ACCs) at Chandigarh and Amritsar
This extensive logistics network enhances Punjab’s role as a crucial node in India’s trade and commerce ecosystem.
D. Logistics Parks: Building Future-Ready Infrastructure
Under the Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (LEEP) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Punjab is set to emerge as a northern logistics hub. Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) are being developed in the State.
These parks, covering over 100 acres each, will be equipped with cold storage, mechanized warehouses, integrated IT systems, and inter-modal cargo transfer facilities.
Existing key MMLPs in the state include:
- Punjab Logistics Infrastructure Ltd., Ludhiana
- Hind Terminal, Ludhiana
- Adani Logistics, Ludhiana
E. Policy Support for Warehousing and Logistics
Punjab recognizes the critical role of logistics in industrial development and is actively supporting the modernization of the warehousing sector. While traditionally fragmented, the sector is becoming more organized due to GST and the rise of e-commerce and 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) services.
Key Policy Initiatives:
- Land Allocation for warehousing and logistics development.
- Promotion of Specialized Warehousing in agricultural zones, especially for high-value or temperature-sensitive goods.
- Creation of a Logistics Zone along the AKIC with regulatory exemptions for new enterprises.
- Development of Zirakpur-Tepla-Rajpura Region as the state’s primary logistics hub, serving freight from Delhi, Shimla, and Baddi.
- Expansion of ICD and CFS Infrastructure based on demand.
- Establishment of Dedicated Transport Zones in key industrial cities, with truck terminals near highways and corridors.
- Encouraging PPP Models for transport centers and logistics hubs.
- Online Portal for Warehousing Discovery, helping businesses find optimal solutions.
- Quality Rating Mechanism for existing warehouses to encourage continual improvements.
- Support for Central Government initiatives to enable efficient data collection for better logistics planning.
Conclusion
With a strategic geographic location, proactive policies, and massive infrastructure push, Punjab is transforming into a future-ready industrial and logistics powerhouse. From multimodal corridors to state-of-the-art logistics parks and seamless port connectivity, the State is setting benchmarks for others to follow in enabling efficient trade and commerce.
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