Transport Nagar: Rs 113 crore project stalled, delays plague operationalisation

Ranchi: Transport Nagar, conceived as a dedicated hub for goods vehicles, remains largely non-functional since its inauguration in Oct 2024, raising concerns over delays in operationalising a project built at a cost of over Rs 113 crore. The facility is yet to see the expected shifting of transporters from congested city areas.

Developed by Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company (JUIDCO), the first phase of the project came up on around 40 acres in Sukurhuttu near Kanke. The hub was designed to accommodate over 400 vehicles across multiple parking tiers, along with warehouses, office spaces and driver facilities.

The infrastructure includes two warehouses spread over more than 10,000 square metres, a G+3 office complex with 16 units, dormitories with around 180 beds, food court facilities and two weighbridges. The project was expected to significantly reduce the entry of heavy vehicles into the city and ease chronic traffic congestion.

However, lack of operational clarity has now emerged as a key hurdle, with the project yet to attract bidders for running the facility.

The tender to operationalise the hub failed to receive any response, resulting in delays, while issues such as absence of tenant transporters have further hindered its utilisation.

Urban development and housing department (UDHD) secretary Sunil Kumar acknowledged the delay, attributing it to issues in attracting bidders for operations. “We are revising the terms and conditions. The tender was not getting bidders, so it has been revised and will be floated again,” he told TOI.

The second phase of Transport Nagar, proposed on an additional 9.12 acres at an estimated cost of about Rs 57.8 crore, is still under construction. Officials said its progress is also linked to finalising an operational model for the existing facility.

“A unified, state-of-the-art transport hub is the need of the hour. Bringing all transporter offices under one roof will ease traffic congestion, improve coordination and ensure smoother logistics operations. Centralising activities in a designated area will help decongest city roads and create a more organised, efficient urban transport system,” said Aditya Malhotra, Secy, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI).