Mahindra Logistics; Ascendas-Firstspace launches warehouse park in Pune

Mahindra Logistics, one of India's largest integrated logistics solution providers, and Ascendas-Firstspace, an industrial real estate developer, have announced the establishment of a new one million square feet multi-client warehouse park in Talegaon, Pune. The entire development will be spread across three phases, with the first phase of 0.5 million square feet expected to be operational by the end of 2023-24.

The Ascendas-Firstspace Pune Talegaon-II Logistics Park, spread over 40-acres, is the second project in the micro-market of Ascendas-Firstspace. Talegaon-II is part of the Chakan Talegaon Industrial Corridor (CTIC), which is one of the most important manufacturing clusters in India. The area has been a traditional manufacturing base for large auto, engineering, and electronics companies. The CTIC corridor is currently witnessing significant growth on account of the success of the Make in India program.

This will be an important part of Mahindra Logistics' pan-India network of multi-user facilities in a strategic industrial cluster. In addition to one million square feet of A-grade warehousing capacity, the facility will house MLL's first Automation Technology Centre, which will focus on the development and deployment of automation technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics & Automation, ARVR, AGVs, and Block-Chain.

Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Logistics, said, “The Chakan region is one of India’s leading industrial & consumption clusters. The region is the largest area for Mahindra Logistics, and we are pleased to announce this investment in partnership with Ascendas-Firstpace. The one million SFT facility will allow us to further expand our range of Integrated solutions for key customers in the area, and provide world class, technology enabled solutions. The site will also host our first Automation Technology Centre and focus on DEIA talent development. Designed to be an IGBC/LEED certified facility per our vision to carbon neutral by 2040.”

Mahindra Logistics modern A-Grade warehouse, located within Chakan Talegaon Industrial Corridor (CTIC), will be designed with the Company’s sustainability standards. It will be developed with a focus recycled construction material, liquid discharge management, renewable energy waste management, and state-of-the-art automation. MLL’s commitment to sustainability ensures the Company, actively invests in making warehousing facilities energy efficient and exceptionally sustainable with a goal of achieving leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all our multi-client large format warehouses. The facility will be IGBC Gold/Platinum certified with 100% on-site solar powered renewable power.

Aloke Buniya, CEO, Ascendas-Firstspace said, "We are very happy that Mahindra Logistics Limited has chosen to work in our logistics park, which is one of the largest multi-user facilities we have in the area. We welcome Mahindra Logistics with great enthusiasm and look forward to expanding our partnership to other projects across India. This partnership is a testament to the enduring legacy of trust and quality development that CapitaLand Investment and Ascendas-Firstspace have established throughout the years. We remain committed to being a strong partner to our clients and constructing a robust network of logistic and industrial parks in the key strategic logistics nodes and manufacturing clusters all across India."

Sanjay Bajaj, MD, Logistics & Industrial, India in JLL said, “We are proud to be the transaction advisors for this unique project. This is a testimony of India logistics growth story. Outsourcing of logistics activities is a major trend with 43% of all transactions in the 3PL sector in 2022”.