5,000 MT potato cold storage Budget at a glance (5,000 MT, potato, +2°C to +6°C)
- Supply & installation (insulation + refrigeration + steel): ~₹5.3 Cr (~US$0.55 M) · ₹10,600/MT
- Full turnkey (adds civil, electrical, DG): ~₹9.7 Cr (~US$1.0 M) · ₹19,300/MT
- NHM / MIDH subsidy: commonly 35–50%, credit-linked (verify current norms)
- Build time: 6–9 months from a ready site
Indicative figures for budgeting only — not a firm offer. Contact us for a project-specific quote. FX: 1 USD ≈ ₹96.
5,000 MT potato cold storage – What the budget actually buys
“Cold storage price” means very different things in different quotations, which is why promoters often see numbers ranging from ₹1 Crore to ₹18 Crore for the “same” 5,000 MT store. The gap is almost entirely about scope. To budget properly, split the project into two layers.
Layer 1 — Core cold-store scope (what makes it cold)
This is the insulated building envelope, the refrigeration plant, the internal steel structure and installation. It is the part that determines temperature performance and running cost, and it is where a specialist insulation and refrigeration supplier adds the most value.
Layer 2 — Civil & site scope (what makes it a building)
RCC foundation, building shell and flooring base, electrification, transformer, DG set, boundary wall, office and land. These are usually handled by the client or a local civil contractor and vary widely by location.
5000 MT cold storage cost — the budget bands
Use these bands to frame your budget. They are consolidated from current market benchmarks for a five-chamber potato store of about 4,750 m² of insulated panel area.
| Scope | Budget (₹) | US$ | Per MT (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulated envelope + doors + floor (panels only) | 1.35–1.6 Cr | 0.14–0.17 M | 2,700–3,200 |
| Refrigeration plant (rack screw + evaporators) | 1.4–1.6 Cr | 0.15–0.17 M | 2,800–3,200 |
| Core supply & installation (envelope + refrigeration + steel) | ~5.3 Cr | ~0.55 M | ~10,600 |
| Add: civil, electrical, transformer & DG | ~4.3 Cr | ~0.45 M | ~8,700 |
| Full turnkey (excl. land & working capital) | ~9.7 Cr | ~1.0 M | ~19,300 |
Excludes land, working capital (potato procurement, salaries, power) and applicable subsidy. GST is extra. A controlled-atmosphere (CA) export store with racking, forklifts and reefer vans can exceed ₹15–18 Cr — a different product class.
Where the money goes: cost breakdown
Within the core ~₹5.3 Cr supply-and-install scope, the split is roughly:
| Component | Amount (₹) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Insulated panel envelope (roof, wall, partition, anteroom) | 90,28,585 | 17% |
| Accessories, insulated doors & floor insulation | 44,23,560 | 8% |
| Refrigeration plant (rack screw, evaporators, cooling tower) | 1,55,25,000 | 29% |
| Internal steel structure / mezzanine racking | 1,50,00,000 | 28% |
| Installation & commissioning | 91,50,000 | 17% |
| Core basic total | 5,31,27,145 | 100% |
Two items dominate: refrigeration and the steel structure, at roughly 29% and 28%. If you can source steel locally and hand it to the installer on a labour-only basis, you can trim capex meaningfully without touching thermal performance.
What moves your budget up or down
- Cooling technology. A Freon rack-screw system is the cost-effective default. Ammonia (R717) has a higher capex and needs a PESO licence but the lowest running cost at scale. Controlled atmosphere adds the most capex but the longest shelf life — only for export or high-value crops.
- Panel thickness. 120 mm roof, 100 mm walls and 80 mm partitions is the norm. Under-speccing saves capex today and costs you far more in energy for the life of the store.
- Automation & humidity control. PLC/SCADA monitoring and advanced humidity/ventilation add cost but protect produce quality and cut weight loss.
- Location & soil. Foundation cost swings with soil data; freight and installation vary by state.
- Steel supply route. Client-supplied steel vs turnkey supply is one of the biggest single levers.
Running cost: the budget most people forget
Energy is up to 70–80% of a cold store’s lifetime running cost, so the cheapest capex is not always the cheapest facility. The measures that cut running cost most are all in the insulation and refrigeration design: correct roof insulation, sealed tongue-and-groove panel joints, an insulated vapour-sealed floor, an anteroom buffer with air curtains, and correctly staged compressors. Budgeting a little more here typically pays back in months, not years.
Subsidy & financing
Cold storage up to 5,000 MT is promoted under NHM / MIDH sub-schemes, with credit-linked back-ended subsidy commonly in the 35–50% range depending on category and location, routed through NABARD / NHB. A bankable, NHB-format Detailed Project Report (DPR) improves both loan and subsidy approval odds. On a mixed trading-plus-rental operating model, well-run 5,000 MT stores have historically reached break-even in about 5–6 years. (Subsidy schemes change — confirm current norms before you invest.)
Get an exact budget for your 5000 MT cold storage
Wedge Industries Limited supplies PUF/PIR insulated panels, doors and refrigeration for cold stores across India and the Gulf. Request a project-specific quote, a detailed BOQ and a bankable DPR.
Request Your Free Quote & BOQ →Frequently asked questions
What is the budget price for a 5000 MT potato cold storage in India?
Budget around ₹5.3 Crore for the core insulated building and refrigeration (supply & installation), and about ₹9.7 Crore for a full turnkey facility including civil work, electricals and DG. That is roughly ₹10,600 to ₹19,300 per MT, before land, working capital and subsidy.
What is the cost of cold storage per MT in India?
For a 5,000 MT store, the core supply-and-install scope is about ₹10,600 per MT, and a full turnkey build is about ₹19,300 per MT. Smaller stores usually cost more per MT; larger stores less, due to economies of scale.
Why do cold storage quotes vary so much for the same capacity?
Because they cover different scopes. A panel-only supply quote, a refrigeration-only quote and a full turnkey quote for the same 5,000 MT store can differ by 3–4×. Always confirm exactly which items — civil, electrical, DG, racking, land — a price includes.
How much subsidy is available on a cold storage project?
Cold storage up to 5,000 MT is supported under NHM/MIDH sub-schemes with credit-linked subsidy commonly in the 35–50% range via NABARD/NHB. A bankable NHB-format DPR strengthens your application. Confirm current rates before investing.
How long does it take to build a 5000 MT cold storage?
Typically 6–9 months from a ready site: civil and foundation work, then insulated panel installation, refrigeration installation and commissioning. Insulated panels themselves can be delivered within 4–6 weeks of a confirmed order.
Which cooling system is most cost-effective for a potato store?
A Freon rack-screw system is the recommended default for most Indian potato stores — moderate capex, simple operation and no PESO licence. Ammonia offers the lowest running cost and suits very large or continuously-run sites but needs a PESO licence and safety systems.
Figures prepared by Wedge Industries Limited and consolidated from current market benchmarks for guidance only; they are indicative and not a firm offer. For a project-specific quotation and BOQ, contact our Cold Chain team.
