The first historic budget of J&K will be presented in the Parliament during the budget session today. Regarding the state budget, the industry sector of the state is hopeful that the transport project, which has been in cold storage for two years, can be approved in the upcoming budget session in Parliament. This will be the first time that a separate budget of Jammu and Kashmir will be presented during this session. The Lieutenant Governor's administration has also started a fresh review of the proposed dry port project at Samba. In 2017, the dry port project was started in Samba.

The purpose of starting the dry port was to strengthen the industry and trade of backward Jammu and Kashmir. In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then Finance Minister of the state, Dr. Haseeb Drabu, signed the MoU on 11 February 2018 with Dubai Port Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bill Suleyam in Dubai. The project was to be completed within 18 to 24 months. If this project was ready, then there was to be a foreign direct investment of five thousand crores in the state, but the important project went into cold storage under the poor functioning of the previous government. For this, the then government had identified a place in Samba and in Ompora of Budgam in Kashmir.

100 acres of land were identified in Samba and the government was to give 400 acres more. Dubai Port delegation also came from Dubai to Jammu to review the identified site but these experts expressed dissatisfaction at the marked place in Samba and asked them to mark another location. The Deputy Governor Administration has again started reviewing the place. Rakesh Gupta, head of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, says that in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a need for dry transport. We are hopeful that it will be approved in this budget session. If a dry port is formed then it will increase exports and the economy of the state will be strengthened. Even people will get employment opportunities. Neighboring states will also get the benefit.

There are dry ports: There are usually ports on the beach from where goods are brought and transported by sea. Dry ports are built where there is no sea, but facilities for import and export of goods are like a port. Dubai Port has a lot of experience in making it a dry port. Hence, the state government, in collaboration with Dubai Port Group, may resume the construction of the dry port.

Transport expenses are reduced by 25 percent: Transport spending is the biggest bottleneck in industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir. If it becomes a dry port, then the transportation expenses will be reduced by 20 to 25 percent. The dry ware will house company warehouses, cold storage chains, controlled climate stores, and supply chains. Presently, fruits and vegetables, industrial products and other things reach here by trains or trucks in the state. The export of handicrafts and other products will also be possible by this means.