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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Unlocking the true potential of infrastructure led growth

Mumbai: The rapid expansion of India’s logistics sector is closely tied to the parallel growth of infrastructure, industrial activity and global trade integration. Within this context, Navi Mumbai is steadily positioning itself as a critical node in the country’s logistics network, owing to its proximity to key gateways such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. This locational advantage is further amplified by transformative infrastructure...

Unlocking the true potential of infrastructure led growth

Mumbai: The rapid expansion of India’s logistics sector is closely tied to the parallel growth of infrastructure, industrial activity and global trade integration. Within this context, Navi Mumbai is steadily positioning itself as a critical node in the country’s logistics network, owing to its proximity to key gateways such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. This locational advantage is further amplified by transformative infrastructure projects like the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the proposed Multi Modal Corridor and the Dedicated Freight Corridor. However, the true value of these large-scale developments can only be fully realized through the creation of integrated logistics ecosystems, making the development of a dedicated logistics park not just beneficial but essential. The Integrated Logistics Park (ILP) planned by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) near Chirle Village in Pushpak Node represents a strategic intervention designed to bridge infrastructure capacity with operational efficiency. Infrastructure projects such as ports, airports and freight corridors generate immense throughput potential, but without organized logistics zones, inefficiencies in storage, distribution and multimodal transfer can undermine their effectiveness. The ILP addresses this gap by creating a centralized, well-planned hub where warehousing, transportation and value-added services coexist within a unified framework. This integration reduces transit times, lowers costs and enhances supply chain reliability—key requirements in a competitive global economy. “Navi Mumbai’s strategic location, supported by world-class infrastructure such as JNPA, NMIA and enhanced regional connectivity, positions it as a natural hub for logistics and allied industries. Through the development of the Integrated Logistics Park, CIDCO aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that will facilitate efficient movement of goods, attract investments, and support economic growth. The pilot phase is a significant step towards unlocking this potential and establishing Navi Mumbai as a logistics hub of National importance,” said Vijay Singhal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIDCO Critical Role This vision underscores the critical role logistics parks play in translating infrastructure investments into tangible economic outcomes. By earmarking approximately 374 hectares and structuring it into seven logistics zones, CIDCO is ensuring that the ILP is not merely a storage space but a comprehensive ecosystem. The inclusion of wide road networks, trunk infrastructure and utility systems reflect an understanding that logistics efficiency depends as much on internal planning as on external connectivity. The ILP’s design enables seamless integration with regional transport networks, ensuring that goods can move swiftly between production centers, ports and consumption markets. Moreover, the alignment of the project with the Government of Maharashtra’s MIDC Pass-through Policy highlights the policy-driven approach to industrial and logistics development. The pilot phase, involving the allotment of 12 plots over 72 hectares, demonstrates a calibrated strategy to attract private participation while maintaining regulatory oversight. By developing trunk infrastructure upfront, CIDCO reduces entry barriers for investors, accelerating project implementation and ensuring uniform standards across the park. Broader Initiatives The importance of the logistics park is further amplified when viewed alongside the broader urban development initiatives in Navi Mumbai. Projects such as Educity, Medicity and Sportscity contribute to creating a holistic urban ecosystem that supports workforce requirements and enhances livability. This integrated approach ensures that the logistics hub is not an isolated industrial zone but part of a larger economic and social framework. In essence, while infrastructure projects lay the foundation for connectivity and capacity, logistics parks operationalize these advantages by enabling efficient, coordinated, and scalable movement of goods. The ILP in Navi Mumbai exemplifies how targeted planning can unlock the full potential of infrastructure investments, positioning the region as a logistics hub of national importance and a driver of sustained economic growth. Strategic proximity underlined According to CIDCO the logistics sector in India is witnessing rapid expansion, driven by the growth of e-commerce, manufacturing, and global trade. In this evolving landscape, Navi Mumbai is emerging as a key logistics hub. It cited Navi Mumbai's strategic proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), and strong connectivity through major infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the proposed Multi-Modal Corridor, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor. Vice Chairman and Managing Director of CIDCO, Vijay Singhal, stated that CIDCO aims to create a future-ready ecosystem through the Logistics Park that will facilitate efficient movement of goods, attract investments, and support economic growth. "The pilot phase is a significant step towards unlocking this potential and establishing Navi Mumbai as a logistics hub of National importance," he added. The CIDCO has launched a pilot initiative by inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) through a competitive bidding process for 12 plots.

People praise Army for protecting

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah interacts with displaced border residents at a shelter camp.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah interacts with displaced border residents at a shelter camp.

Garkhal (J&K): Men and machines of the armed forces worked meticulously to ensure the interception of Kamikaze drones and missiles fired by Pakistani troops targeting Jammu, drawing widespread appreciation from people.


India on Thursday night swiftly thwarted Pakistan's fresh attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot, after foiling similar bids at 15 locations across the country's northern and western regions, amid a military conflict between the two neighbours.


Looking after the operational area of Jammu under the command of the 9 Corps, the 26 Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Tiger Division", had put in place a robust air-defence system, virtually carving out an Israel-type Iron Dome to protect Jammu from a Hamas-style attack by Pakistan.


An official who was privy to the developments said it was a meticulous combination of men and machines in defence that thwarted such a massive Pakistani attack.


In the dead of night, Pakistan unleashed its most audacious assault on Jammu since the 1971 war, deploying a swarm of more than a hundred Kamikaze drones and missiles in a sinister attempt to devastate the city. But what followed was a show of unmatched precision, courage and resilience.


"We are indebted to our armed forces who have saved Jammu from a major attack by Pakistan. We appreciate them for their missionary work. We never thought these bombs could be neutralised in the air," Garkhal resident Sikender Singh said.


Singh, whose family, along with more than 500 villagers, has shifted to safer camps set up by the government in Mishriwala on the Jammu outskirts, said had the bombs not been intercepted, they could have caused massive deaths and destruction.


Finest system

The Army, backed by one of the world's finest air-defence systems, intercepted the aerial barrage with astonishing accuracy -- virtually every hostile object was destroyed mid-air. Not a single vital installation was touched. Not a single civilian life was lost.


"Eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Satwari, Samba, R S Pura and Arnia. All were intercepted and blocked by air-defence units. Visuals over Jammu reminded exactly of a Hamas-style attack on Israel, like multiple cheap rockets," an Army official said.


He said the Pakistan Army is operating and behaving like Hamas. "Drones were sighted at multiple places along the western front -- confirmed to be hostile. They are being effectively engaged by our air-defence systems. Pakistani drone attacks have been reported at various locations along the western borders and are being effectively countered by the Indian armed forces," he added.


The multi-tier air-defence system, with a twin technological security architecture of Russian and Israeli surface-to-air missile setups and the indigenous Akash, was a game changer against such attacks.


Former Jammu and Kashmir director general of police S P Vaid appreciated the armed forces and their technological security systems for effectively dealing with the Pakistani attacks.


He said 50 to 60 air attacks by Pakistan over Jammu and other places were neutralised on Thursday night by the impregnable air-defence system of the country.


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