On Wednesday, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) put forward proposals to develop three logistics parks or cargo villages along the Urban Extension Road-II (UER) as part of the proposed Delhi Master Plan.

The three logistics parks are intended to move much of the truck and heavy vehicle traffic from Delhi's major arteries to the new highways to relieve congestion on the roads.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union's road transport and highways minister, told media that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor had instructed the DDA to work with the NHAI to develop a strategy for developing these logistics parks under the proposed master plan. Moving vehicles and warehouses from the heart of Delhi to the neighboring regions of the new expressways and expressways will reduce congestion and air pollution in Delhi.

Gadkari, who led the meeting with Delhi LG Anil Baijal, senior officials of the Delhi government and DDA alongside local MPs, said it is likely to create six logistics hubs along the UER-II, Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways and Dwarka Expressway in the NCR where railway lines intersect these major roads.

He said the goods landing at these major hubs can be transported to different parts of Delhi and NCR with small and clean fuel vehicles.

National Highways Logistics Management Ltd, a NHAI Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the development of multimodal logistics parks, highlighted how the Tughlakabad ICD is now located in the middle of a densely populated region. It was originally intended to be in the periphery of Delhi.

Currently, about 60,000 trucks drive daily on the roads in Delhi to carry about 9.5 lakh tons of cargo. While about 25,000 trucks are destined for Delhi, 16,000 trucks pass through the city and the remaining 19,000 trucks come from Delhi, carrying goods to other parts of India.

Three cargo villages would come into Holambi Kalan in Baprola, Narela and Mundka with 173 hectares to relieve Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, according to the proposal. All these three locations are near the UER-II.

Even the current Transport Nagar can be redeveloped with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.