Soon, tender of logistic hub to be floated

Kolkata: Tender to select the agency that will construct the state-of-the-art logistic hub-cum-truck terminal at Serampore will be floated shortly.

The construction of the boundary wall is likely to start soon along with leveling of ground. After this, a soil test will be conducted. The state government has given

clearance to set up the terminal. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 111.683 crore and it will come up on 143.53 acre of land.

It will be built by the Calcutta Goods Transport Association (CGTA). Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the project at the Bengal Global Business Summit in 2016 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the representatives of the CGTA and the state Transport department headed by its Principal Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay. Accordingly, the CGTA gave a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Transport department in June 2016. Bandyopadhyay along with senior officials of the department carefully studied the DPR and then sent it to the state government for clearance.

There are four main reasons behind setting up of the logistic hub — decongestion of the Central Business District (CBD), improvement in the operational efficiency of the city roads, reduction in pollution and environmental degradation and improvement of the safety standards on the CBD by relocation of non-

confirming activities. On completion, the perennial traffic congestion at Burrabazar would be a matter of the past. Moreover, the containers, multi-axel vehicles and trailers that are parked along the national highways would be parked in the hub, thus, reducing chances of road accidents.

A study conducted by the CGTA stated that Burrabazar was highly vulnerable from the environmental point of view because of ineffective management of solid wastes generated in the area. Composition of the solid waste generated

indicates presence of high organic content, mostly from fruits, vegetables and other perishable commodities. Foul smell due to

decomposition of organic content, littering of waste by scavenging birds and animals along with improper collection, storage and transfer mechanism cause unhygienic and a polluted environment.

The study reveals that goods vehicles enter Burrabazar mainly through three major points causing

massive traffic congestion in the area. Heavy duty trucks are parked on narrow lanes and by lanes and the loaders take several hours to load and

unload them. Once the logistic hub is constructed, heavy trucks will be parked there and small trucks will be used to carry goods to the wholesale markets causing much less traffic in city.

The hub will also provide job opportunities to local youth in the training centre, medical centre and in other amenities.

The hub will have storage and warehousing, long-axle truck parking and allied amenities, auto workshops, administrative buildings, fire stations, post offices along with police check posts. Weigh bridge and truck parking areas, skill development centres, fuel stations, commercial complexes, common driver dormitory and administrative office complex (CGTA) tower will also be incorporated.