A ₹765 Crore Signal That Changes Everything
A government-backed infrastructure project that will redefine the ease of movement of goods across North India has just taken the most critical step on its journey. The Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub (IMLH) at Nangal Chaudhary, Mahendragarh district of Haryana has reached the final stage of tendering, as reported by Udaipur Times. Technical bids of a global tender issued in August 2025 are open in Chandigarh for evaluation of qualified companies for the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) contract.
This isn’t a construction headline. This project unlocks several opportunities for every MSME, logistics startup, warehousing investor, and ancillary manufacturer in the Delhi-NCR-Rajasthan-Haryana belt. Once a 408-acre, world-class logistics hub is operational, connected by rail, road, a 220 kV dedicated power line and even a canal water pipeline, there is a chain of business demand that extends well past the logistics hub.
This is the time to get in on the ground floor for entrepreneurs who are listening to infrastructure signals early.
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What the Udaipur Times Report Means for Business Founders
What Actually Happened
The Haryana Multi Modal Logistics Hub Project Limited is working on the development of IMLH under PPP on the DBFOT model. In August 2025, a global tender of Rs 765.27 crore is out with the technical bids opened and financial bids are expected soon. Phase 1 is about 408 acres of ~1,000 acres that have been acquired. Already, some ₹200 crores have been invested in building internal rail lines and a 220 kV power line, as well as canal water supply from Narnaul — before one private operator has even signed a contract. Such an amount of pre-construction governmental investment is an obvious indication of long-term commitment.
Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs
India’s logistics cost (LCC) stands at 13.0-14.0% of GDP which is among the highest when compared to similar economies. The target to bring this down from 8% has been set in the National Logistics Policy 2022 and this is where the infrastructure of multimodal hubs such as the IMLH at Mahendragarh help achieve it. As operational, it’s not only large corporations that benefit from it. It sets up a systematic, high-volume space that ensures MSMEs have access to enhanced warehousing, freight aggregation and last-mile connectivity at a lower cost.
The message of the founders is clear: business opportunity follows infrastructure — usually 18-36 months in advance of the masses.
Why India’s Logistics Sector Is a Generational Opportunity
The logistics and warehousing industry in India is in a structural growth phase. This growth is being spurred by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) unification, the expansion of e-commerce, and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGSNP). The plan streamlines infrastructure investment across ministries. The Indian logistics market is expected to reach more than USD 380 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of more than 10%.
- As of now 35 Multi modal logistic Parks (MMLPs) are approved in India under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase 1.
- The government has allocated more than ₹1 lakh crore for the five years of the current cycle for logistics infrastructure development.
- The Western DFC (passing through Haryana and Rajasthan) has significantly cut freight time between JNPT and Delhi NCR.
- In the 2023-24, the exports from Haryana reached more than ₹1.5 lakh crore, and manufacturing clusters are now springing up in Mahendragarh-Nangal Chaudhary belt.
In fact, the IMLH project, explored in detail by Udaipur Times, is right at the heart of all of these macro-tailwinds. If the founders have established ancillary businesses near this hub, they will get the dividends of all the crore spent by the government.
Government Policies & Incentives You Must Know
All of the founders should draw a plan ahead on government support available to businesses establishing in the IMLH ecosystem prior to putting capital to work.
The Haryana State Industrial & Investment Policy 2020 provides capital subsidy, reimbursement of SGST, stamp duty waivers, employment generation incentives etc. Mahendragarh is a policy district, new manufacturing units can enjoy better advantage than the industrial district grown up cities like Gurugram and Faridabad.
Land clearance, manufacturing licenses and sectoral clearance are processed via the Invest Haryana Single Window Portal, which has helped in getting the clearance for manufacturing units in the state with an average time of 48 days. This allows the entrepreneur to apply online, monitor the status of their application and get scheme-specific guidance.
MSMEs registered on the Udyam Registration Portal get access to a range of benefits, including a prioritisation in access to bank loans, access to loans without collateral under the CGTMSE scheme and preference in government tenders, which are crucial for startups in logistics ancillary manufacturing for the first time.
6 Manufacturing Business Opportunities Directly Linked to the IMLH
The IMLH is more than just a store, it’s a demand creator. This development stimulates six segments in manufacturing:
1 Prefabricated Warehouse Structural Components
Thousands of sqm of pre-engineered buildings, mezzanine floors, dock levellers, shelving racks, and modular office buildings are required in a world-class logistics hub. The 408-acre Phase 1 footprint plus rail connected warehousing bays assures a multi-year procurement program for local structural fabricators.
- Set up a structural steel fabrication unit within 50-80 km of Mahendragarh.
- Get BIS certification for structural steel, and secure long-term contracts with hub operators.
- Discuss sub-supplier arrangements with the building major such as Interarch, Everest or Pennar that have pre-engineered arrangements.
2 Industrial Packaging & Material Handling Equipment
All logistics hubs handle millions of units each year. These products are used in huge quantities, including corrugated boxes, stretch film, HDPE woven bags, PP strapping, and bubble wrap. In addition to consumables, material handling equipment, such as pallet trucks, conveyor systems, hand jacks and dock plates, are required for every operator within the hub.
- Set up a corrugated box/flexible packaging plant in the industrial area of Mahendragarh-Rewari.
- Manufacture HDPE woven sacks or multilayer packaging films for FMCG, pharma and auto parts warehouses.
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3 Cold Chain Equipment & Refrigeration Unit Manufacturing
Once the multimodal hub is operational for North India, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan, there is an instant requirement for temperature-controlled storage and transport. A capital-intensive but high margin segment is cold rooms, reefer container, insulated panel systems, and monitoring systems. For mid-sized cold chain equipment manufacturers, financing on their MSME specific schemes can be obtained through SIDBI up to 75% of the project cost.
- Produce PU Insulated Cold Room panels and Cold Storage Unit prefabricated units for the agri-export operators in the hub.
- Manufacture compressors or condensing units for smaller cold storage operators for the commercial refrigeration market.
4 Industrial Fasteners, Bolts & Hub-Grade Hardware
- Become certified with IS 1367 and retailers directly to EPC contractors involved in construction of IMLH.
- To diversify in the areas of conveyor hardware, dock leveller componentry and rack anchoring systems for repeat orders.
View Full Project Details: Explore the Bolt and Nut Manufacturing Business Guide
5 Weighing, Scanning & Cargo Tracking Hardware
Today’s logistics centres require automated weighbridges, RFID trackable goods, barcode scanners and digital manifest software. The software is usually cloud-based, but the hardware – weighbridge load cells, RFID readers, industrial enclosures, and UPS systems – can be locally produced. Domestic companies enjoy a structural pricing edge due to the preference given to them in the government tenders for hub operations under Make in India.
- Produce load cells and weighbridge platforms for industries, such as logistics and mining.
- Manufacture RFID reader & rugged industrial scanner enclosures to supply to hub operators & 3PLs.
6 Fire Safety & Industrial Safety Equipment
- Establish a fire extinguisher refilling and CO2 cylinder manufacturing plant to cater to the growing industrialization in Haryana.
- Produce industrial safety signs, PPE kits and flame-resistant workwear for the construction and running of the hub.
Import–Export Opportunity Analysis
How the IMLH Changes Export Economics for North Indian Manufacturers
The IMLH not only connects directly with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (Western DFC) but also reduces the time-to-port for exporters from Haryana and Rajasthan. This is a gamechanger for manufacturers who are presently relying on road freight to JNPT (Mumbai) or Mundra (Gujarat), and for whom logistics costs can cost as much as 4-6% of the export margins.
Key Export Markets Accessible via the Hub
- UAE & GCC — Haryana is a leading exporter to GCC, in the sector of auto parts, garments and engineering goods. The hub cuts down lead time and freight charges in container consolidation.
- Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand) — Processed foods, garments and industrial goods become more competitive when transported from the source via rail-to-port.
- Europe (Germany, Netherlands, UK) — A secure aggregation and cold-chain transport facility for precision engineering goods, auto parts and specialty chemicals.
Agricultural Export — A Completely Underdeveloped Opportunity
Rajasthan and Haryana produce substantial volumes of fresh vegetables, fruits, and dairy. A cold chain hub at Mahendragarh can serve as a consolidation and pre-cooling centre, enabling agricultural exporters to meet quality standards for European and Gulf markets. APEDA’s export promotion and quality certification support is available for registered agri-exporters operating from certified pack houses — a major advantage for entrepreneurs setting up cold chain infrastructure near the hub.
Import Substitution — Domestic Manufacturing for Hub Equipment
India currently imports substantial amounts of automated storage, dock levellers and conveyor hardware. The IMLH’s scale is sufficient to motivate domestic manufacturers to manufacture import substitute products. Under RoDTEP, advance authorisation and other advantages offered by the DGFT Foreign Trade Policy can be availed by the exporters and manufacturers in this segment, giving them both cost and working capital benefits.
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Indian MSME Success Stories in Logistics-Adjacent Manufacturing
Choudhary Enterprises, Bawal (Haryana)
This is a Bawal-based MSME that started by making basic pallets. It has now diversified into material handling products for logistics parks across Haryana and Rajasthan. Its strategic location in the early phase of the park, before it was full, helped it secure long-term contracts with major 3PL operators. It also secured premium rates that were not available to later units.
Rajasthan Corrugated Containers (Bhiwadi)
Haryana Cold Chain Cooperative (Rohtak)
A group of 12 smaller cold storage operators in Rohtak formed a cooperative. They established a common pre-cooling and sorting centre for vegetable exporters. Their model shows that every MSME does not need to invest in expensive capital equipment. Instead, a service model close to a logistics hub can be viable and bankable with support from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
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How Niir Project Consultancy Services (NPCS) Helps You Enter This Market
Establishing a manufacturing or logistics-service business in Mahendragarh IMLH cannot be done with just a whim and a prayer; it involves a detailed feasibility study, the choice of technology, market sizing, regulatory mapping, and a bankable project report. Thousands of Indian entrepreneurs and MSMEs have been assisted by NIIR Project Consultancy Services (NPCS) here.
- Detailed Project Reports (DPR): Bankable, lender ready projects reports including project cost, project revenue forecasts, IRR, and payback period.
- Market Research & Demand Surveys: Primary and secondary research for demand, competitive landscape and pricing trends.
- Feasibility Studies: Location analysis, infrastructure readiness assessment and go/no-go recommendations.
- Technology Consultancy – Equipment Selection, Process Design, Equipment Supplier Identification and Technology Transfer Arrangements.
- Government Scheme Mapping – identification of applicable central and State government scheme, subsidy and financing schemes for the project.
NPCS has assisted entrepreneurs in the warehousing infrastructure, cold chain logistics, industrial packaging and safety equipment manufacturing sectors to create project documentation of investment grade which has secured bank finance and funding from investors.\
Key Data: Business Opportunity at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
| Industry | Integrated Logistics, Warehousing & Multimodal Transport |
| Market Driver | ₹765.27 Cr IMLH — Mahendragarh, Haryana — Global tender evaluation phase (Aug 2026) |
| Project Scale | 408 acres Phase 1; ~1,000 acres total; PPP / DBFOT model |
| MSME Opportunity | Warehousing, Cold chain, Packaging, MRO, Last-mile logistics, Ancillary manufacturing |
| Export Potential | North India gateway to UAE, SE Asia & Europe via JNPT & Mundra Port rail corridors |
| Government Support | Haryana Industrial Policy 2020, PM Gati Shakti, National Logistics Policy 2022 |
| Risk Level | Medium — SC stay on 129 acres; project continues on balance ~870 acres |
| Growth Outlook | India logistics market to cross $380 Bn by 2033; Haryana corridor at strategic advantage |
Conclusion: The Window Is Open — Act Before the Crowd Arrives
The ₹765.27 crore Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub in Mahendragarh, Haryana, is not just an infrastructure project. It is a structural economic signal that the North Indian logistics corridor is being permanently upgraded. As Udaipur Times has reported, the global tender process has crossed its most critical milestone — the project is moving from policy to pavement.
For entrepreneurs, MSMEs, manufacturers, and investors, the opportunity follows a simple principle: the businesses that set up before the hub is operational secure the best land, the best supplier relationships, and the best long-term contracts. Those who wait until completion face higher land costs, longer lead times, and far more competition.
The sectors are clear — prefabricated structural components, industrial packaging, cold chain equipment, safety hardware, and logistics-grade precision manufacturing. The government support stack is robust. The rail, road, power, and water infrastructure is already in place. All that remains is for founders with foresight to make the move.
