MP Yaduveer says exporters need not rely on distant ports for Customs procedures 

Mysuru: The Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Kadakola near Thandavapura has received Customs approval from the Union Finance Ministry and is set to facilitate export shipments from the Mysuru region, paving the way for international trade operations. 

Confirming the development to Star of Mysore, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said the Customs clearance facility was approved following representations made to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 

“We had requested the Union Government to provide the necessary infrastructure for import and export activities at Kadakola so that exporters need not depend entirely on distant ports for Customs-related procedures. The proposal has now been approved, which will greatly benefit exporters in the region,” he said. 

The Greenfield terminal of the Container Corporation of India  (CONCOR), also known as the Inland Container Depot (ICD), scripted a new chapter in the region’s rail logistics sector in May this year by successfully dispatching its maiden outbound container rake.  

The facility transported 2,200 tonnes of Dunite mineral to Odisha through a trial long-haul rail movement, marking its first major outbound mineral consignment. 

With Customs approval now in place, the terminal is preparing to handle export shipments for industries such as JK Tyre, TVS, Nestlé and Rishi FIBC, according to CONCOR MMLP General Manager M.P. Vijay Kumar. 

The cargo will be routed through seaports and shipped to destinations in the United States and Europe, a move expected to strengthen Mysuru’s position as an emerging logistics and export hub. 

Awareness among exporters 

MP Yaduveer Wadiyar said, enhancing India’s export capacity has been a key focus of successive Union Budgets and noted that the Kadakola facility would contribute to reducing the country’s trade deficit while improving ease of doing business. 

He stressed the need to create awareness among exporters and industries about the availability of the facility so that it can be effectively utilised as a gateway for international trade. 

“We will hold discussions with Central Government leaders as well as local industries and traders to understand their requirements and make the facility more user-friendly.  Their feedback will help shape the next phase of development,” he added. 

Vijay Kumar said, the Kadakola ICD has witnessed steady cargo movement since becoming operational and has handled a total of 660 containers so far. 

Of these, 80 twenty-foot containers carrying Dunite mineral were transported from Mysuru to Odisha, while another 80 twenty-foot containers loaded with Nestlé products were                                despatched to Kolkata. 

Daily capacity 

The facility has the capacity to handle three freight trains per day, with a container handling capacity of around 300 containers daily. At full utilisation, this translates to up to 12,000 containers per month. Supporting this operation are two warehouses, each measuring 1,000 square metres. 

On the inbound side, the terminal received two rakes of white cement from Rajasthan, each comprising 90 containers, totalling 180 containers. It also handled four rakes of grey cement from Andhra Pradesh, with each rake carrying 80 containers, accounting for 320 containers. Overall, the facility has handled 160 outbound containers and 500 inbound containers, taking the total container traffic to 660, Vijay Kumar added. 

‘Project overcame many hurdles’ 

While several projects have been brought to Mysuru, sustainable employment generation depends on industrial growth. That is why the CONCOR Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) was so important. The project, initially sanctioned at Rs. 102 crore, overcame several hurdles, including the original contractor abandoning the work midway. It was later re-tendered and completed. 

Before the Lok Sabha elections, I inaugurated the facility after ensuring that land-related issues and administrative bottlenecks were resolved. With the Customs Department now approving EXIM operations, the final hurdle has been cleared. This development is expected to significantly boost industrial activity and create new opportunities for Mysuru and the surrounding region. 

—Prathap Simha, former Mysuru-Kodagu MP