NEW DELHI: Varanasi will get the country’s first ‘ freight village ’ spread over around 100 acres. The plan to set up this project close to the upcoming multi-mode terminal along the Ganga has attracted major players including Dubai Port World and IL&FS.

Sources said Sharaf Group of Abu Dhabi , a global player in shipping, logistics and supply chain is also keen on the project. They added that the big facility will not only bring investment but also generate jobs.

A ‘Freight Village’ is a specialised industrial estate which attracts companies that require logistics services and can cluster to improve their competitiveness. This will allow relocation of retailers, warehouse operators and logistics service providers supplying the regional FMCG market. Due to its proximity to the main city, it will serve as a distribution centre and as a point of transfer between long distance transport by truck, rail and waterway and short distance distribution with delivery vans. ‘Freight Village’ includes an inter-modal terminal, which facilitates integration between different modes of transport.

Officials said World Bank has taken the lead to put in place the project which will provide connectivity to the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, the country’s longest waterway, and the national highway as well.

According to government reports, Varanasi being a strategic location provides the opportunity to facilitate the transshipment of about 30 million tonnes of domestic freight as well as another nine million tonnes of export-import freight.

