Parliament Question: Modernisation of Food Storage Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 596 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2026 MODERNISATION OF FOOD STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE 596. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): the details of initiatives undertaken by the Government during the last three years for modernisation of foodgrain storage infrastructure including construction of modern silos, warehouses and scientific storage facilities; (b): the details of storage projects sanctioned and completed in Maharashtra particularly in Akola district; (c): whether the Government has undertaken any assessment regarding reduction in foodgrain losses and improvement in storage efficiency through these initiatives; (d): if so, whether there is any proposal to establish additional modern storage infrastructure in major agricultural districts including Akola; and (e): if so, the details thereof along with the expected timeline for implementation? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BANIBHANIYA) (a): in order to keep its storage infrastructure robust and updated, department is taking various steps for Modernization as under: (i) Construction of SILOs under PPP Mode: Steel Silo storage with bulk handling facility is highly mechanized and modernized way of storing food grains in bulk. It ensures better preservation of food grains and enhances its shelf life. If food grains are stored in Silos and transported in bulk, losses due to theft, pilferage and transportation would be negligible compared to food grains storage in bags in conventional warehouses. Steel Silos are constructed under Public Private Partnership Mode. Further, 21.75 LMT modern Silo capacity has been created upto FY 2026-27. The details are attached at Annexure A(ii) SMART Warehouse Project: Under this project, traditional depots are converted into smart warehouses which are equipped with different sensors like smoke sensors, fire sensors & gate opening sensor etc. for monitoring key parameters such as CC)2, phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature on real time basis. Smart warehouse ensures real-time visibility, timely intervention, data-driven decision-making & standardized operations across all depots contributing to ensure safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage and distribution. With respect to CWC’s food grain depots, Smart Warehousing Systems have been installed and commissioned at 215 CWC food grain warehouses in a phased rnarlner, comprISIng: • CCTV-based surveillance with Al analytics • loT sensors • Gate and LWB (Live Weigh-Bridge) automation • loT-enabled smart locks (iii) Depot Darpan portal: The Depot Darpan Portal is a digital platform being implemented in FCI and CWC, launched in May 2025, for enhanced monitoring, transparency, and efficiency of food grain storage depots under PDS. Key features and functionalities of the Portal are as under: a. Enables depot/warehouse managers to upload geo-tagged data on infrastructure, operations, and financial performance. b. Depots assessed through a composite scoring framework covering infrastructure and operational parameters, with star ratings assigned for objective performance evaluation. C. Integrated with loT sensors, CCTV, real-time dashboards, and Al tools for monitoring temperature, humidity, gas levels, security, and stock movement d. Data reliability ensured through 100% supervisory verification and selective third-party audits A Mobile Application of the Portal has also been launched, providing senior officers with on-the- go access to depot ratings and performance metrics, ensuring greater flexibility and accessibility. (iv) Further, in order to modernize the infrastructure of Food Storage Godowns, the Ministry initiated the 'Transformation of FCI' programme during the Financial Year 2023–24. The initiative primarily focuses on the upgradation of existing godown infrastructure through replacement of old and damaged Bituminous (BT) roads with Cement Concrete (CC) roads, replacement of deteriorated Asbestos Cement (AC) sheet roofing with pre-painted colour-coated Gl profile roof sheets, upgradation of illumination systems, and installation of Diesel Generator (DG) sets as power backup at Food Storage Godowns across the country. (b): As on 01.07.2026, FCI is having 19.05 LN4T storage capacity in Maharashtra which includes owned and hired capacities. CWC has created 514825 SQFT storage capacity in Maharashtra in last 3 years. No storage projects have been sanctioned and completed by FCI in Akola district as of now. However, FCI has hired two Food storage godowns from CWC in Akola district. The details of the same is as under; 1. CWC Akola-I – 135721VIT and 2. CWC Akola – 11 – 19152 MT(c): Digital initiatives, including Depot Darpan, Integrated Information System for Foodgl'ains Management Rapid Reporting Service and Anna Darpan, have been implemented to strengthen inventory management and prevent leakage/diversion of foodgrains. Through Anna darpan, the stock position is updated in real time, thereby preventing diversion and manipulation of stocks. Further pilot depots have been selected under the SMART warehousing that aims to realise the potential of Internet of Things (loT) technology to monitor and to track storage conditions and enable timely corrective action. (d) & (e): Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) is augmenting its storage capacity by creating capacities through Food Corporation of India (FCI). FCI is modernising the foodgrain storage infrastructure in the State of Maharashtra through the construction of modern steel silos in a phased manner. Under Phase-I, a steel silo with a capacity of 1.25 LMT is under construction at FSD Borivali, Maharashtra, and is likely to be completed by December 2026. Under Phase-II, construction of steel silos with a total proposed capacity of 3.875 LVIT at six locations in the State of Maharashtra has been planned. (List attached at Annexure-B). 8####Annexulre A Annexure referred to in the reply to Part (a) ofUnstarred Question No. 596 in the Lok Sabha on 22.07.2026. YEAR 1 S.N. State Location Capacity Year/Date of LM completion F Harvana PaniDat 0.50 25.05.2023 24 [2 Haryana Rohtak 0.50 18.06.2023 3 Gujarat Arnreli 0.50 13 . 1 0.2023 (Liliya) 4 Punjab Sangrur+ 1.00 0 1.12.2023 5 Bihar Darbhanga 0.50 28.02.2024 Total 3.00 FY 2024- 6 Punjab Sahne\val 0.50 01 .05.2024 25 7 Bihar Samastipur 0.50 09.05.2024 8 Guiarat Baroda 0.50 10.05.2024 M 9 Chhehretta 0.50 13.06.2024 10 Puniab Batala 0.50 14.06.2024 ma 11 Basti 0.50 24.09.2024 Pradesh Total 3.00 FY 2025- 12 Bihar Buxar 0.50 23.04.2025 26 13 Rajasthan CAP Alwar 0.75 06.05.2025 14 mI Khagaria 0.50 02.06.2025 15 Uttar ma 0.75 10.06.2025 Pradesh 16 Punjab BG Malout 1.50 16.06.2025 17 West Balurghat 0.50 16.06.2025 Bengal 18 Bihar Katihar (I1) 0.50 18.06.2025 19 Uttar FSD 0.25 20.08.2025 Pradesh Dhamora 20 Uttar Harduaganj 0.50 15.09.2025 Pradesh 21 Uttar Fatehpur 0.50 05. 12.2025 Pradesh 22 Bihar Kaimur 0.50 15.12.2025 23 Uttar Lalpur 1.00 Dec- Pradesh 2025/19.03.2026 24 Bihar Purnea 0.50 26. 12.2025 25 Haryana Palwal 0.25 Dec- 2025/3 1 .03.2026 26 Bihar Begusarai 0.50 12.03.2026 27 Uttar Lucknow 0.50 Feb- Pradesh 2026/24.06.2026 28 Uttar l Mar-2026 Pradesh 29 West Mar-2026 L Bengal ma 30 a Mar-2026 31 Gujarat a Mar- 2026/07.04.202632 Uttar Pilibhit 0.50 Mar-2026 Pradesh Uttar Sitapur 0.25 Mar- Pradesh 2026/28.04.2026 Uttar Auraiya 0.25 Mar-2026 Pradesh 35 Haryana Assandh 0.25 Mar-2026 36 Haryana Gharundha 0.25 Mar-2026 37 Haryana Samalkhan 0.25 Mar-2026 38 Haryana Fatehabad 0.25––rMar-2026 39 Ma Safidon 0.25 Mar-2026 Total 14.00 FY 2026- 40 Uttar Lakh impur 0.50 May-2026 27 Pradesh 41 Uttar Unnao 0.25 May- Pradesh 2026/09.06.2026 42 Uttar Amethi 0.25 May- Pradesh 2026/09.06.2026 43 Uttar a May-2026 Pradesh Dehat 44 Uttar a May-2026 Pradesh 45 ma Bhuna 0.25 a Total 1.75 88##8Annexul-e-B Annexum referred to in the reply to Part (d) & (e) ofUnstarred Question No. 596 in the Lok Sabha on 22.07.2026. A. The details of Silos under construction in Maharashtra is as under(Phase-I):- Capacity Likely date of completion of silo State/Region Location (in LMT) facility. FSD Borival Maharashtra Dec-26 B. Further, details of Silos proposed to constructed in Maharashtra is as under(Phase-II):- t Mode Location Revenue District Capacity in 1,MT 0 a Spoke Pune Pune a Spoke Jalgaon Jalgaon 0.75 a Spoke Palghar Palghar 0.5 DBFOO Maharashtra-2 t Mode Location Revenue District Capacity in LMT 0 Maharashtra Spoke Aurangabad Aurangabad Maharashtra Spoke Nanded Nanded Maharashtra Spoke Jalna Jalna 0.375 o $8++8