Bihar gets its first dry port: What is it, how it can help the state
The dry port in Bihta is being seen as the Bihar government's big initiative to boost exports. What goods does Bihar export, and why is the dry port important?
Bihar Industry minister Nitish Mishra on Monday (October 21) inaugurated the state’s first dry port at Bihta, a town near state capital Patna. The dry port is being seen as the state’s big initiative to boost export of goods being produced in Bihar, in collaboration with a private company.
What is a dry port and why was it needed in Bihar?
A dry port, or inland container depot (ICD), provides a logistics facility away from a seaport or airport for cargo handling, storage, and transportation. It acts as a bridge between sea/air ports and inland regions, facilitating efficient movement of goods.
It was a much needed initiative for a state like Bihar, where its export items — mainly agro-based, garments and leather products — are manufactured in diverse locations
Now, cargo from various shippers can be consolidated at the dry port, making it easier to transport. The best part of a dry port is that it handles customs clearance procedures, reducing congestion at seaports/airports.
Overall, a dry port was needed in Bihar to streamline cargo handling and transportation, lowering transportation costs, and securing storage and handling.
The Bihta dry port is spread over seven acres. It is being run in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode by Pristine Magadh Infrastructure Private Limited and the state industry department.
What products is Bihar looking to export?
Bihar is a major producer of fruits and vegetables such as potato, tomato, banana, litchi and makhana (fox nuts). It also has significant export capacities of maize (with 11 of 38 Bihar districts focussing on maize production), sponge iron, packed food, waste paper, newsprint, rice, and meat.
While maize production is heavily concentrated in North Bihar districts such as Khagaria, Begusarai, Saharsa and Purnea, the state government has opened several leather and garment units in North Bihar districts of Muzaffarpur, East Champaran and West Champaran. Vaishali, Nalanda, Patna, and Begusarai also have vast export potential in food processing.
The first consignment exported from the dry port was of leather shoes, which were sent to Russia.
Recently, half a dozen investors have opened leather manufacturing units in the state. Industry minister Mishra said: “Leather and garment have vast export potential in the state. We are increasing our land bank to encourage more and more investments.”
As per Bihar government data, the state recorded exports worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2022-23. Now, with the availability of ICD Bihta, the state looks at boosting its export potential.
Can adjoining states benefit from the Bihta dry port?
ICD Bihta is fully commissioned and approved under the department of revenue, Union ministry of finance. It is connected by railways to gateway ports of Kolkata and Haldia in West Bengal, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Nhava Sheva in Maharashtra, Mundra in Gujarat, among others. Catering to the entire eastern India, ICD Bihta can help neighbouring states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
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