Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the foundation stone-laying ceremony (Bhoomipujan) for the Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Sindi Railway in Wardha district, Maharashtra, on November 1, 2026, with the announcement reaching wider industry attention on November 2 . The project, spread across approximately 150 acres near the Nagpur–Wardha district border, is being jointly developed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a special purpose vehicle of NHAI, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) .
Speaking at the ceremony, Gadkari emphasized that the facility would open new avenues for international trade and employment in the Vidarbha region. "The Multi-Modal Logistics Park being developed at Sindi Railway would boost direct exports to international markets through Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and create employment opportunities for local residents," he said . The project is being executed through AMARA TRANZ Solution, with the first rake carrying Maruti cars having already commenced operations from the site .
The core economic proposition of the park centers on route optimization for Vidarbha's export commodities. Under the current arrangement, cotton, cotton lint, yarn, textiles, and oranges from the region must first be transported westward to Mumbai before being shipped onward to destinations such as Bangladesh. The new dry port at Sindi will enable these goods to travel eastward by rail to Haldia in West Bengal, from where they can be transported to Bangladesh via inland waterways, entirely bypassing Mumbai .
This route change is expected to deliver substantial cost savings. According to government estimates, transportation costs per container are projected to decline from approximately ₹1.5 lakh to ₹1 lakh, a reduction of roughly one-third . For a region heavily dependent on agricultural and textile exports, this represents a meaningful improvement in competitiveness for farmers and exporters who have long absorbed high inland freight costs before their goods even reach a port.
Beyond the Bangladesh route, the park will also serve as a gateway for direct exports from Vidarbha to international markets through JNPA. The facility will include cold storage and warehouse infrastructure to support the consolidation and shipment of perishable agricultural produce such as oranges and vegetables, alongside cotton and textiles . A customs office is proposed at the site, enabling the facility to process both domestic and international containers, effectively functioning as an inland container depot .
The project is part of the broader Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative, which envisions 35 multimodal logistics parks across India to connect industrial corridors, agricultural production zones, and export gateways. The Sindi facility is designed as a dual-channel node: serving agricultural exports toward Bangladesh via Haldia while also providing industrial goods access to global markets through JNPA . Exporter clusters are planned at the site to consolidate cargo from major industrial centres in Nagpur and Wardha .
Connectivity infrastructure around the park is progressing. The 1.5-kilometer rail siding connecting Sindi Railway Station to the project site has been completed and is operational, featuring one handling line, two rail-level platforms, and electrification. Four-laning of NH-353I, which links the site to NH-361 and the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway, is largely complete, and 11 kV power supply has been installed . These supporting works are intended to ensure the park can function as an effective road-rail freight interchange from the outset.
For the Vidarbha region, which has historically lagged in logistics infrastructure despite its agricultural and industrial output, the Sindi MMLP represents a structural shift in export orientation. By providing a direct rail link to eastern ports and a customs-enabled dry port, the facility aims to reduce transit times, lower landed costs for exporters, and generate employment in warehousing, transportation, customs brokerage, and related services . The first Maruti car rake already operating from the site signals that commercial activity has begun even as the broader park infrastructure is developed in phases.