Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 6: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get its first-ever ‘Dry Port’, likely to be set up in the Industrial Estates of Bari Brahamna, Samba or Kathua, with the arrival of a five-member high-level team of Dubai here tomorrow to have final consultations with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other senior Ministers of the Government. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is likely to be signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 10.
Headed by Sultan Ahmad bin Sulai, the five-member team of DP World, Dubai, the leading infrastructure development Company, is tomorrow scheduled to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu and Industry and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga, to discuss and finalize the deal on construction of the Dry Port, which would serve as industrial hub in the State.
Dr Drabu told the Excelsior that construction of the ‘Dry Port’ would go a long way in boosting industrial activity and reducing high cost of production by the industry in Jammu and Kashmir. The project was likely to cost somewhere between Rs 1000 crore to Rs 1500 crore, he said, adding that exact cost would be worked out during finalization of the agreement.
“The deal was likely to be discussed and finalized during tomorrow’s meeting which the high-level team from Dubai would have with the Chief Minister and other top political functionaries of the State,” the Finance Minister said, adding that the ‘Dry Port’ would come up at the Industrial Estates Bari Brahamna or the surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, official sources said, the Dubai team would finalize location depending upon adequate availability of space and other para-meters required for construction of the `Dry Port’ but it was almost certain that it would come up at Bari Brahamna, Samba or Kathua.
“The goods required by the industry would be dumped at the ‘Dry Port’, which will sharply bring down high cost of production for the industry and transportation charges will go down by 20 per cent to 25 per cent,” sources said, adding that this would be first ‘Dry Port’ in Jammu and Kashmir and only third in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and J&K.
Sources said that if everything goes well and the deal is struck during tomorrow’s meeting between Dubai based team and Jammu and Kashmir Government, there was a possibility that the final MoU would be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to United Arab Emirates beginning February 10.
Construction of first-ever ‘Dry Port’ in Jammu and Kashmir was first announced by Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu during presentation of general budget for 2018-19 in the Legislative Assembly.
There has been long pending demand from the industry in Jammu and Kashmir for construction of ‘Dry Port’, which would go a long way in benefiting the industry in reducing their transportation and other costs.
As many as 12 agreements will be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE as India and the oil-rich Gulf nation look to intensify economic cooperation.
The agreements will include areas like finance and skills development.
Modi will start his visit to three West Asian countries – Palestine, the UAE and Oman – on Friday with focus on cooperation in key areas of defence, security and counter- terrorism.
“PM Modi is visiting the UAE on February 10. There would be a state visit and during that visit 12 agreements will be signed between our countries,” sources said.
The Prime Minister will participate in the 6th World Government Summit in Dubai on February 10-11 in which India is a partner country.
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