KASSIA urges K’taka Govt to create logistics parks at Hubli, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum

Bengaluru, Aug 27 (KNN) The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) has urged the Kartnaka Government to create logistics parks at Hubli, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum in addition to the mega park at Bangalore.

KASSIA has thanked the Government for taking up the issue of creation of logistics parks on priority with a view to give further spurt to economic activity, growth and development in the State.

In this connection, KASSIA has made some suggestions to the government.

In a release, KASSIA President Basavaraj S Javali said, “We appreciate that in addition to the Multi Model Logistics Park at Dabaspet, Government is keen of setting up more logistics parks at strategic points in different regions of the State.  We suggest that as indicated these logistics parks may be created at Hubli, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum in addition to the mega park at Bangalore.”

Such logistics parks in the important regional centres will help speed up the growth and development linking up with activities in the hinterland and also help the neighbouring districts where industrial activity can be fruitfully diversified, he said.

These logistics parks should develop multi model facilities by providing the necessary infrastructure in terms of ports, airports, road network warehousing and cold storage facilities.

Taking an example, KASSIA President suggested that Belgaum can be developed as a key logistics park by using the Airport infrastructure that is already available.

By spending some more additional resources incrementally, the airport can be developed into an important Air Freight Corridor to benefit the region as basic facilities already exist.

Another strategic benefit of Belgaum is the closeness to the nearby Goa port which is under 150 Kms. distance and can be very usefully leveraged, Javali suggested.

Belgaum is an extremely important centre of industrial activity as well as having considerable exports of horticultural products, vegetables as well as floricultural products.  Belgaum had earlier been envisaged as a food park / zone which can be usefully developed.

To help the northern parts of the State, rail infrastructure can be strengthened and developed by laying new lines parallel to national high way between Hubli and Belgaum.  One more rail road can also be laid from Karad  to Dharawad via Kolhapur and Belgaum, KASSIA said.

It will be very important and necessary to include the Gulbarga regions by developing the necessary infrastructure including logistics to take advantage of the closeness of the district to Hyderabad.  The developments in Andhra Pradesh can  also be usefully leveraged to district advantage.

KASSIA said it would like to provide all necessary inputs and possible help in order to ensure that logistics parks are created as early as possible in the interest of the State’s economic development. (KNN Bureau)