Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that Nangal Chaudhary in Mahendragarh district and the surrounding region are poised to emerge as one of the country’s major economic hubs, with the Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub (IMLH) expected to give a major boost to trade, industry and employment.
The CM after the inauguration of rail connectivity to the IMLH on Sunday, said the project would transform the region into a major economic centre. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India and the efforts of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal for laying the foundation of the ambitious project.
The Chief Minister said several major private-sector investors were showing keen interest in the project, which would create large-scale employment opportunities for local youth. He said the government had prioritised world-class transport infrastructure to enable farmers, traders and industrialists from Mahendragarh, Rewari and neighbouring areas to move their products quickly to global markets through western ports, including Mumbai.
Highlighting Haryana’s infrastructure development, Saini said that before 2014, travelling from Chandigarh to Nangal Chaudhary could take nearly 10 hours, while modern expressways had now considerably reduced travel time. He said every district in Haryana was now connected through four-lane highways and green-corridor expressways.
The Chief Minister said the Nangal Chaudhary project would benefit not only Haryana but also neighbouring Rajasthan by improving connectivity and facilitating industrial and commercial activity in the region.
First Freight Train Flagged Off
Saini today also flagged off the first freight train from the newly constructed rail yard of the IMLH in Nangal Chaudhary, marking the commencement of its rail connectivity. Built at a cost of around Rs. 280 crore, the railway link is expected to strengthen Haryana’s logistics infrastructure and facilitate faster movement of goods.
Calling the launch a historic step towards establishing Haryana among the country’s leading logistics networks, Saini said the IMLH’s first phase was being developed over 408 acres at a cost of approximately Rs. 1,300 crore. The project is among the country’s top 50 major infrastructure projects and, once fully operational, will have the capacity to handle around two million containers annually.
The hub is expected to particularly benefit sectors such as automobiles, machinery, garments and agriculture. By integrating rail and road connectivity, it will provide faster, smoother and more economical movement of goods between western ports and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Saini said the project would open new avenues for employment and trade in the region. Basic infrastructure, including electricity, water and roads, has already been developed, he said.
Push for Private Investment
During a meeting with industrialists and investors following the inauguration, Saini said the flagging off of the freight train represented more than the start of a railway service. It marked, he said, “the new economic momentum of Haryana”.
He said Haryana would move beyond being merely a producer of goods and emerge as a major gateway for delivering products to domestic and international markets. The project, being developed under the Prime Minister’s guidance, would contribute to the national goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, he said.
The Chief Minister said the entire project would eventually cover 886 acres in two phases, with work on the first 408-acre phase already completed. Modern facilities for freight movement, warehousing, loading and unloading and rapid dispatch have been incorporated to reduce logistics costs and improve industrial efficiency.
Saini urged industrialists and investors to participate in tenders under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and become partners in Haryana’s industrial growth.
He also said Maharishi Chyavan Medical College at Koriyawas had become operational, with MBBS classes underway. With further infrastructure and industrial development, the region, he said, would emerge as a new centre of prosperity, investment and employment.
Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, Narnaul MLA Om Prakash Yadav, Mahendragarh MLA Kanwar Singh Yadav and other senior officials and public representatives were present at the programme.
