Mangaluru : D. Devaraj Urs Truck Terminal Ltd., a State government undertaking, is keen on building a logistics park for Mangaluru, said Managing Director C. Mallikarjun.

The company, he said, is moving from building truck terminals to building logistics parks to offer comprehensive solutions.

Addressing members of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry here recently, Mr. Mallikarjun said that a logistics park is not just a truck terminal, but facilitates a host of activities related to the transport industry.

Besides providing parking facilities to goods vehicles, the park will have other facilities, including warehousing, packaging, value addition and many more.

Mr. Mallikarjun, Joint Commissioner of Transport, said that he wanted to improve transport facilities in Mangaluru when he was the Regional Transport Officer here in 2011-13. However, he had very limited powers. Now being in-charge of the company, he can do something for the city which has huge potential for growth, the officer said.

More than 15,000 trucks enter and an equal number of trucks exit Mangaluru, mainly the Baikampady Industrial area and surrounding areas.

The roadside parking of trucks is not only hazardous, but also painful for truck crew. As such, a suitable facility should be created where the crew can park the vehicles and relax, Mr. Mallikarjun said.

His company is building a logistics park in Bengaluru in about 400 acres.

In the land-scarce Mangaluru region, that extent of land might not be available. However, the government should identify and allocate some land for the purpose in the interest of city’s growth, he said.