Daijiworld Media Network- Indore

Indore, Apr 11: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that India is poised to redefine its global trade strategy, with the reciprocal tariff policy creating fresh avenues for exports and economic expansion.

Gadkari, who was inspecting the ambitious Multimodal Logistics Park project—estimated at a massive Rs 1,200 crore—at Pithampur industrial area near Indore, underlined the transformative potential of the initiative. The park, strategically located just 30 km from Indore, is expected to become a major logistics hub in the region.

“In the backdrop of tariffs imposed by the United States, global trade dynamics are shifting. This is opening up new windows of opportunity for India,” said the minister, asserting that such policies allow India to broaden its trade footprint and enhance export capabilities.

He, however, pointed out that India continues to grapple with high logistics costs, which account for 14 to 16 percent of the overall expenses—significantly higher than China’s 8 percent and the Western average of 12 percent. Gadkari stressed that this cost burden undermines India’s global competitiveness.

Expressing confidence, he said the establishment of multimodal logistics parks and infrastructure-led projects would be instrumental in bringing these costs down. “Such initiatives are critical to positioning India as a major trade force globally,” he said.

Gadkari announced that the first phase of the Pithampur logistics park—spanning a sprawling 255 acres—is expected to be completed within the next 18 to 24 months. The facility, he noted, would not only catalyse trade and exports from the Malwa-Nimar region but also usher in a new era of economic upliftment for Madhya Pradesh.

Hailing Madhya Pradesh’s dominance in organic farming, Gadkari revealed that nearly 40 percent of India’s organic produce comes from the state, with Malwa-Nimar alone contributing a staggering 75 percent of that output.

The minister also laid the foundation stone for a railway siding at the logistics park, stating that the direct railway link would facilitate swift and cost-effective transport of agricultural goods to major ports like Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, and Kandla and Mundra in Gujarat.

In a move set to further streamline trade operations, Gadkari shared that the government is working on obtaining clearances to allow container inspections at the Pithampur site itself. This would enable goods to be shipped directly from the logistics park to international destinations without procedural delays.

With poetic flourish, Gadkari concluded by saying, “We are bringing Mumbai’s sea to Pithampur,” capturing the essence of this visionary infrastructural leap.