The financial architecture that makes Mobile Thanda Godaam affordable, bankable, and scalable
For any FPO, project costing is the moment when excitement must meet realism. But with the Mobile Thanda Godaam, the costing structure is surprisingly friendly because:
1. CAPEX is modest and nearly one-third of static cold rooms
2. OPEX scales with utilisation (lighter in off-season)
3. Revenue streams are diverse (not dependent on a single commodity)
4. Subsidies & concessional loans are widely available
5. Income starts from Day 1 (storage fees, sorting, short-haul runs, reverse-load, festival rentals)
Below is the full costing framework — as a structured narrative — so an FPO leader, bank officer, or govt official can understand every component.
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8.1 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (CAPEX)
One-time cost to build & deploy the Mobile Thanda Godaam
Based on the design and earlier technical sections, the indicative CAPEX is ~₹20,00,000. We will refine this later, but the structure remains the same.
CAPEX Components (Explained)
1. Refurbished Marine-Grade Container (20ft)
The base asset — strong, long-life, corrosion-resistant.
Capable of handling rough rural ground and heavy daily loading.
2. Multi-Layer Blended Insulation (MLBT)
Includes thermal foam, reflective sheets, anti-fungal lining, moisture barrier, and internal cladding.
3. Tri-Temperature Refrigeration Unit
Compressor + evaporator + multi-zone dampers allowing:
+14°C → +4°C → –14°C based on need.
4. Deep-Freezer Chamber (Integrated)
Custom-built sub-chamber for frozen goods on return trips.
5. Adjustable Shelving System
Removable racks, railings, anti-slip flooring, crate-guides.
6. IoT + Sensors + Dashboard
Temperature, humidity, door activity, GPS, power source logs.
7. Weighing Platform (Load Cell)
Entrance-based weighing system for transparent procurement.
8. Auxiliary Power System
Battery backup + solar integration + stabilizer + safety switches.
9. Optional Accessories
Water-bath pre-cooler, cold packs, drain systems, sorting table.
10. Initial Consumables + Spares
Gaskets, sensor spares, coil cleaners, cables, thermal packs.
11. Deployment Costs
Transport to site, crane/forklift placement, commissioning, training.
Net CAPEX Range
₹18,50,000 to ₹21,00,000
Depending on freezer chamber size, accessories, solar capacity
We keep ₹20,00,000 as the working number for now.
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8.2 OPERATING EXPENDITURE (OPEX)
Recurring costs — directly linked to usage
Mobile Thanda Godaam’s operating cost is variable, not fixed — a major advantage for FPOs.
OPEX Components (Explained)
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1️ Electricity / Power Usage
Depends on:
• temperature zone used (14°C uses least, –18°C uses most)
• load volume
• duration of operation
• ambient temperature
Power comes from:
• grid
• battery
• solar
• occasional genset (rare)
Use-Case Example
In Assam’s fish clusters, +4°C operations used 30–45% more power than vegetable clusters, but ran fewer hours. So overall power bill remained manageable.
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2️ Diesel / Fuel for Hired Vehicles for Movement Only
Mobile Thanda Godaam moves only when needed, not daily.
Fuel costs apply to:
• tractor pulls
• small shifting
• occasional longer repositioning
• outbound/inbound transport logistics (if tractor/truck used)
FPOs who shift Mobile Thanda Godaam only 10-20 times a year incur thus very low fuel expense.
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3️ Labour Costs
A typical Mobile Thanda Godaam unit needs:
• 1 Unit Manager (supervision, scheduling)
• 1 Operator (temperature, loading, records)
Labor costs depend on:
• operational hours
• harvest season intensity
• SHG production schedules
• festival/event usage
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4️ Maintenance & Repairs
Marine containers + modular refrigeration = low maintenance.
Maintenance includes:
• monthly sanitisation
• coil cleaning
• gasket checks
• sensor recalibration
• small electrical repairs
• occasional insulation touch-ups
Annual AMC can be considered.
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5️ IoT / Software Subscription
Minimal but essential.
Covers:
• cloud dashboard
• temperature logs
• GPS
• alerts
• mobile app access
• data storage
Banks and buyers prefer IoT-enabled cold chain as it reduces risk.
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6️ Consumables / Replacements
• cold packs
• cleaning agents
• sorting materials
• spare fuses
• LED lights
• fasteners
• crates (if MTG-owned)
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7️ Administrative Costs
• communication
• record-keeping
• small stationery
• insurance (optional)
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OPEX Summary
OPEX is “pay as you use” — extremely friendly for seasonal agriculture.
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8.3 WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
Ensuring Mobile Thanda Godaam always has liquidity to run.
FPOs need limited working capital because Mobile Thanda Godaam:
• earns daily
• receives multiple small payments
• has low perishability risk
• has minimal fuel costs
• rarely runs at full power unless needed
WC Components
1. monthly labour
2. monthly power bill
3. small fuel consumption
4. day-to-day maintenance
5. crate/packaging float
6. emergency repair buffer
Most FPOs can maintain WC through:
• daily storage fees
• sorting fees
• reverse-load commissions
• SHG support fees
• festival rentals
This makes Mobile Thanda Godaam self-financing within 4–6 months.
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8.4 BANK LOAN REQUIREMENT
Expected Loan Ask
For a ₹20 lakh project, FPOs typically seek:
• Loan amount: ₹12–₹15 lakh
• Margin money: ₹3–₹5 lakh
• Grant/subsidy: ₹3–₹7 lakh
Exact proportions vary by mission and scheme.
Bank Preference
Banks prefer assets that have:
• resale value
• multi-use capacity
• daily cash inflow
• simple O&M
• temperature logs for risk mitigation
• visibility (can be physically verified anytime)
Mobile Thanda Godaam checks every box.
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8.5 SUBSIDY OPTIONS
Multiple sectors support cold-chain assets:
Possible Schemes
• Mission for Integrated Horticulture Development
• Fisheries PMMSY
• Livelihood Missions (SRLM/NRLM)
• NABARD Capital Subsidy
• Tribal Development Funds
• North East Special Grants
• Food Processing PMFME
• State agriculture missions
• MSME cold-chain support (select states)
• CSR for rural livelihoods
In each category, subsidies typically range from 30% to 60%.
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8.6 REPAYMENT STRUCTURE
Repayment Period: 5–7 years
Moratorium: 6–12 months
Interest Rate: 6–9% (livelihood-linked)
Cash Flow Sources:
• storage fees
• outbound logistics
• reverse-load transport
• festival/event rentals
• SHG support services
• cold distribution hub services
Even in conservative scenarios, Mobile Thanda Godaam generates:
• steady monthly income
• multiple revenue streams
• low idle time
• predictable cash flow
This makes repayment comfortable, even in years with crop shocks.
NEUTRAL VIEW;
The Mobile Thanda Godaam project requires a CAPEX of approximately ₹20 lakh and involves variable OPEX linked directly to usage. The costing structure includes container refurbishment, multi-temperature refrigeration, power systems, IoT infrastructure, labour, fuel, maintenance, software subscriptions, and small working capital.
Bank loan requirements, subsidy options, and repayment models are well aligned with existing rural and agricultural finance systems.
MY OPINION;
This costing architecture is one of the most FPO-friendly models in the rural economy today. With CAPEX capped around ₹20 lakh and OPEX scaling only when revenue scales, an FPO never feels burdened.
What I like most is the “3 million kilogram-day” logic — it shows how even the smallest storage fee turns into meaningful annual revenue. Combine that with reverse-local load income, seasonal peak earnings, SHG fees, and festival rentals, and MTG becomes a financial no-brainer. In my view, for any FPO dealing with perishables, this is one of the safest and smartest investments available.
