Aurangabad mulls 2nd dry port; AITL plans to develop a Dry Port (International Cargo Terminal) at Bidkin

Keeping in mind the demand that might come from Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC), Aurangabad Industrial Township Ltd (AITL) is now planning to develop a dry port at Bidkin. This port will be a International Cargo Terminal (ICT), said Gajanan Patil, joint managing director, AITL.

To meet the demand, Jalna dry port is developed by JNPT. We are developing similar port in Bidkin. For Bidkin port, we are in discussion with Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).” This will be a joint venture between MMB and AITL, and will get an operator for that port, added Patil. “This project is in the discussion phase.” The dry port will be set up in 50 acres of plot. This will be close to Jalna port, which is 250 acres.

AURIC has so far attracted `3,600 crore investment from global investors. It is hoping to draw more investment in the project’s phase I. Patil said, “Most anchor investors come with an investment of `1,500-2,000 crore.” Global companies from across the globe—the US, Europe, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea—have been considering investments. For instance, Russia’s Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK); China’s Guangdong Baihe Medical Technology Co Ltd;

Japan’s Fuji Silvertech are some of the investors who have set their eyes on the city. “We are in talks with four-five multinational companies. Within three months, we will be sealing a few deals with global firms,” said Patil without divulging further details.

Hyosung Corporation of South Korea, the largest global spandex producer, is committed to investing around `3,000 crore for 100 acres in AURIC. The Korean firm will start operation from May 1. From the first week of March, production will be started by one company in the city. Patil revealed many electric vehicles (EV) players—both Indian and global—are assessing the Indian market. So, AURIC can attract EV players as well, claimed Patil.