‘The Thar Dry Port’ opens as Rajasthan’s new gateway to global trade

Rajasthan has moved one step forward in its effort to emerge as logistics hub of North India with Hasti Petrochemical & Shipping Ltd (HPCSL) inaugurating its new venture “The Thar Dry Port ICD at Hirnoda near here.

This dry port will serve Rajasthan as a new gateway to global trade and will provide direct rail access to the gateway ports of Mundra and Pipavav in Gujarat, while serving key industrial clusters including Mahindra SEZ, Bagru, Dadu, VKIA, Sitapura and the industries of the Alwar district.

Advertisement

Industry Minister Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore inaugurated the Rs 300-crore project on Sunday evening. Former Rajasthan Assembly Deputy Speaker and sitting Lok Sabha MP (Jaipur Rural) Rao Rajendra Singh, Minister of State for Industries, K.K. Vishnoi and several dignitaried were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Col Rathore said, “Rajasthan today is a business hub. This project is the foundation of Viksit Bharat. Our geographical location has increasingly been turned to be our greatest strength(asset). From this juncture all means of connectivity to Delhi and the other prime locations is possible.”

Handicrafts, garments and marble from Jaipur and surrounding areas can now reach Kandla and Mundra ports directly, cutting logistics costs dramatically and opening global markets to our local businesses, said Ruchir Parekh, Managing Director of Hasti Petrochemicals & Shipping Limited.

Strategically located 55 kilometres from Jaipur, The Thar Dry Port ICD Hirnoda has been developed at an investment of approximately ₹300 crore across more than 100 acres and is designed to handle over 250,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. Developed under the Government of Rajasthan’s Rising Rajasthan initiative and the Government of India’s PM Gati Shakti Mission, the new facility symbolises a transformative milestone in the state’s logistics and trade infrastructure.

In a remarkable example of vision and enterprise, the project has converted previously barren and unproductive land into a world-class integrated multimodal logistics hub, bringing port-like services to the heart of Rajasthan and overcoming the challenges of being a landlocked state.

The ICD provides seamless connectivity to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and direct rail access to the gateway ports of Mundra and Pipavav in Gujarat, while serving key industrial clusters including Mahindra SEZ, Bagru, Dadu, VKIA, Sitapura and the industries of the Alwar district.

This strategic connectivity enables exporters of handicrafts, textiles, garments, marble, engineering goods and other products to access global markets more efficiently, reducing logistics costs and transit times. Beyond enhancing Rajasthan’s export competitiveness, the project is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment opportunities, further contributing to the state’s industrial growth and economic development.

Speaking on the occasion, sitting MP Rao Singh said, “Rajasthan may not have a sea-port, but this barren land has been transformed into an industrial revolution. In the coming years, Rajasthan will be seen growing and shining on the world stage”.

The Thar Dry Port ICD Hirnoda is poised to transform Rajasthan’s trade ecosystem by providing a world-class, integrated logistics platform designed to support the state’s diverse export industries.

The facility offers comprehensive services including high-capacity container handling and storage, on-site customs clearance for faster and more efficient EXIM processing, warehousing and value-added logistics solutions, and seamless first-mile and last-mile connectivity through road and rail networks.

Strategically linked to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and providing direct connectivity to major ports such as Mundra and Pipavav in Gujarat, the ICD significantly enhances supply chain efficiency and market access.

The facility is expected to benefit a wide range of sectors including handicrafts, textiles and apparel, marble, granite and natural stone, engineering goods and industrial equipment, agro-products and food processing, renewable energy equipment, and consumer goods and FMCG, thereby strengthening Rajasthan’s position as a key hub for domestic and international trade.