To improve supply management of foodgrains and commodities, the government today directed state-run Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) to explore eight-key areas, including setting up of air-freight stations in 10 cities and private railway freight terminals.
CWC has also been asked to examine establishment of Inland Container Ports at Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bangladesh borders, besides looking at feasibility of entering into procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
The new directions were given to CWC during the review meeting taken today here by Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
"The minister reviewed the corporate plan of CWC and gave new direction to diversify its area in context of the government's priority to achieve effective supply management of all commodities," a senior government official told PTI.
CWC has been asked to explore setting up of air-freight stations at 10 busy cargo traffic cities in the country.
It has also been asked to convert its 32 existing freight stations at rail side warehouses into private terminals and explore setting up new railway freight terminals in partnership with the private sector, he said.
"CWC to go for Private Freight Terminals at rail side warehouses. CWC asked to coordinate with the railways," Paswan tweeted after the meeting.
Currently, rail freight stations are operated on a profit sharing basis with the Ministry of Railways. CWC has been asked to examine a similar business opportunity with the private sector.
Besides rail freight, the public warehouse operator has been asked to set up Inland Container Ports (ICPs) at Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bangladesh borders. CWC currently has one ICP each at Amritsar and Agartala.
That apart, CWC has been directed to renovate its old warehouses into multi-storey buildings for storage of white (electronic) goods in Delhi, Bangalore and Chandigarh.
As part of short term plan, CWC has also been told to automate all 468 depots and specialise in supply chain management of one agri-commodity from farm field to market. It has also been directed to expand its operations abroad and explore business opportunities in SAARC nations.
CWC, which has 470 warehouses and handles 400 commodities in a storage capacity of 104 lakh tonnes, has been informed to implement the above in a phased manner in six months to two years period.
