The Maharashtra cabinet on Friday cleared the Rs 2,500 crore cargo hub proposed to be developed in the Nagpur aerodrome area.
This follows a meeting between a World Bank delegation and Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday, which paved the way for funds being sought for projects in the state since the past two years.
The cargo hub, estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore, is expected to be funded mostly by the private sector under the build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis.
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Once operational it will complement the growth of the airport facility located in Nagpur. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will operate as a nodal agency for the project.
The state government will spend Rs 200 crore for land acquisition at the site of the hub.
The state would also be approaching the Centre with a request to declare the international multi-purpose cargo cum passenger handling facility to come up at Nagpur as a special economic or free trade zone.
Meanwhile, the World Bank team communicated its satisfaction with the state's performance in recent months during its Friday meeting with the state chief minister.
The World Bank team comprised Vinay Swaroop who headed the delegation, besides other members Mark Heartner, Jeff Hammer and Parimita Dasgupta.
It was learnt that its visit was a preparatory to the formalities that are to be concluded before the World Bank opens its doors for funding.
The state government has been pursuing the World Bank with details on the various fiscal measures effected in the energy, education and public health sectors over the last two years, while seeking a sanction of funds for various projects required in the state.
'A major milestone'
Press Trust of India in Nagpur
The proposed international cargo hub would generate employment to lakhs of both skilled and unskilled workers and prove to be a major milestone in the development of Vidarbha, according to Vilas Muttemwar, MP and co-chairman of Muldi Modal international passenger and cargo hub.
Initially, the project would employ unskilled workers to build infrastructure facilities. Later, skilled workers would be in high demand as a number of big industrial houses, international financial institutions and 5-star hotels would be opening their units here, Muttemwar said.
He said a delegation from the state would soon call on prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and civil aviation minister Shah Nawaz Hussain to seek their help in setting up full fledged customs facilities for international passengers. Customs facilities for cargo has been available since 1997.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), nodal agency for the hub, has already initiated proceedings seeking landing rights for international flights from the civil aviation ministry, Muttemwar added.