Telangana govt finalises land for dry ports to help increase exports

Hyderabad: The TS government has zeroed in on locations for setting up dry ports. These dry ports will help increase exports from the state from the present Rs 1 lakh-crore to Rs 1.50 lakh-crore per year.

The government had failed to submit proposals to the Centre in this regard despite repeated reminders from the Union shipping ministry over the last two years. The government appointed international consultants to identify suitable locations to set up the dry ports. The consultants took up an extensive study and submitted reports to government.

Based on the reports, the government proposed to the Centre to set up four dry ports around Hyderabad by spending Rs 2,700 crore. Of this, the TS government has asked the Centre to extend financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore. Sources in infrastructure and investment department said that the four dry ports proposed at Zaheerabad along NH-9, Bhongir along NH-163, Jadcherla along NH-7 and Damarcharla along the Miryalaguda-Wadapally highway.

“We have identified  825 acres in Zaheerabad, 450 in Bhongir, 319 in Jadcherla and 3,000 acres in Damarcharla. We are ready to hand over the land to union shipping ministry as and when required. There is no need to acquire any private land for these ports as there is abundant government land available in these locations,” the sources said. The Centre is expected to entrust the responsibility of setting up one of these dry ports with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

After bifurcation of the state, Telangana was left with no sea ports since it has no coastline. This impacted exports and imports. While the government had urged the Centre to set up dry ports to compensate for the dip in revenue from exports during the last two years, it failed to identify suitable locations and submit proposals to the Centre.

With several new manufacturing units coming up in the state under TS-iPASS, especially in NIMZ-Medak and Hyderabad Pharma City, with a major thrust on exports, the dry ports have become all the more important. A dry port is an inland terminal which is directly connected by rail or road to a sea port. It offers customs clearance, temporary storage, handling and inspection for exports and international cargo similar to that of a sea port.