PPP Model: Additional capacity of 20 lakh tonnes achieved in food storage, can be stored for up to three years

To modernize the food storage facilities, the central government has built a total of 19.5 lakh tonnes of capacity steel silos, i.e., warehouses, across the country under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the last 11 years. With the help of these modern warehouses, storage can be done for up to three years. Fully automated and equipped with modern facilities, the warehouses have also reduced food grain wastage.

A senior official of the Union Food and Public Distribution Department said, the construction work of steel silos with a capacity of 40 lakh tonnes is going on, while the process of tendering for 25 lakh tonnes capacity is going on. Under this PPP model, Leap Agri Logistics (Baroda) Pvt. Ltd. has also set up a steel silo project for storing 50,000 tonnes of wheat on behalf of the central government. As part of the central government's efforts, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is constructing steel silos in the PPP model to preserve food grains for a longer period.

Silos with a capacity of 19.50 lakh tonnes have been constructed under the PPP mode at 38 locations for the last 11 years, the official said. Apart from this, silos with a capacity of 39,62,500 tonnes are being constructed at 90 locations. These silo projects are being built on design, build, finance, own and operate (DBFOO) or design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. They are being set up both on privately owned land and FCI plots. FCI leases these steel silos for 30 years under the agreement.