Lok Sabha Question No. 1672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Inland Container Depots
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1672.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026.

## INLAND CONTAINER DEPOTS

## 1672.  MS. S JOTHIMANI:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment to identify the need for Inland Container Depots (ICDs) or dry ports in non-coastal export hubs of Tamil Nadu, particularly Karur, Tiruppur and Dindigul, to reduce logistics costs and improve export clearance;
- (b) the number and locations of operational ICDs in Tamil Nadu at present and the details of new ICD or dry port proposals approved or under consideration during the last three years;
- (c) the  measures taken to improve inland access to container handling, warehousing,  cold  storage  and  testing  facilities  for  MSMEs,  women-led enterprises and small exporters in the State; and
- (d) whether the Ministry is coordinating with State Governments and private sector partners  to  develop  multi-modal  logistics  parks,  ICDs,  or  sector-specific logistics infrastructure for exports such as textiles, agro-products and natural fibre-based goods and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a): The development of Inland Container Depot (ICD) or Container Freight Station (CFS) is a demand driven process based on the export import cargo potential. Any agency, private  players  or  public  sector  entities,  willing  to  establish  an ICD/CFS at a particular location based on its' internal assessment can submit their  proposal  seeking  Licence  to  operate  the  same.  All  such  proposals  are evaluated through an Inter Ministerial Committee, coordinated by Department of Revenue, as per the guidelines issued by that Department in this regard and the  approval is granted accordingly.
- (b): The list of locations in Tamil Nadu where ICDs have been notified is enclosed as Annexure-A . Currently, no new proposal for setting up of ICDs in the State of Tamil Nadu is under consideration.
- (c): To create a cohesive, cost-effective, and technology-driven, integrated logistics ecosystem, the States are encouraged to formulate their State Logistics Policy aligning with the National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022. Under the Tamil  Nadu Logistics Policy 2023, the State has promoted development of inland container handling  infrastructure,  warehouses,  cold  storages  and  other  facilities  for MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). Moreover, the Tamil Nadu Warehousing Policy 2026 also provides incentive packages for warehousing and cold storage infrastructure development in the State, with a special focus on the hinterland districts.
- (d): Planning  and  development  of  MMLPs  (Multi  Modal  Logistics  Parks), Inland Container Depots (ICDs) or sector-specific logistics infrastructure for exports are demand driven initiatives. The respective State Governments and private entities are developing these facilities as per their demand assessment and plans. The Government of India also approved 35 MMLP locations across the country,  including  MMLPs in Chennai and Coimbatore in the State of Tamil Nadu.

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ANNEXURE-A ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1672 FOR ANSWER ON 10.02.2026. List of locations in Tamil Nadu where ICDs have been notified

|   S. No. | ICD Locations                                                                                              |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Coimbatore                                                                                                 |
|        2 | Madurai                                                                                                    |
|        3 | Salem                                                                                                      |
|        4 | Singnallur                                                                                                 |
|        5 | Tirupur                                                                                                    |
|        6 | Pullichappallam Village, Vanur Taluk                                                                       |
|        7 | Karur                                                                                                      |
|        8 | Melapakkam, Arakkonam                                                                                      |
|        9 | Coimbatore                                                                                                 |
|       10 | Inland Container Depots, Tuticorin                                                                         |
|       11 | Irugur Village, Distt. Coimbatore                                                                          |
|       12 | SIPCOT Industrial Park, Irungattukottai, Kattrambakkam Village, Sriperumbudur Taluk, Kancheepuram District |
|       13 | Tondiarpet (TNPM), Chennai                                                                                 |
|       14 | Hosur                                                                                                      |

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