National logistics policy to promote process re-engineering, digitisation, multi-modal transport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the national logistics policy on Saturday with a focus on seamless movement of goods across the country and a streamlined online interface. “The policy will be in alignment with the Prime Minister’s ambitious Gati Shakti national master plan, which was launched last year to provide multi-modal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones, and is in advanced stage of implementation,” a person tracking the matter told Business Line. 

The larger aim of both the national logistics policy and Gati Shakti is to reduce the logistics cost in India from the present 13-14 per cent of GDP to below 10 per cent.

The policy will promote areas like process re-engineering, digitisation and multi-modal transport, and will create a single window e-logistics market focussing on generation of employment, skills and make MSMEs competitive, the source added.

By streamlining and strengthening the logistics sector, the policy will aim at increasing the ease of doing business for players in the sector. 

There will also be a push for integration of local supply chains with international supply chains, the source said. It will seek to clarify the roles of the Centre, States and key regulators.

Market size

India’s logistics market provides employment to more than 22 million people and improving the sector will facilitate 10 per cent decrease in indirect logistics cost leading to the growth of 5 to 8 per cent in exports, according to government calculations. The size of the Indian logistics sector is estimated at over $200 billion.

So far, 196 critical infrastructure gap projects pertaining to port connectivity, and movement of coal, steel and food products have been identified as part of the Gati Shakti mission, on which the Network Planning Group is coordinating with the ministries concerned.

Based on recommendations of the NPG, respective commodity flows and trade volumes, user ministries are conducting complete audit of trunk infrastructure, logistics assets, utility network, etc. to identify project needs and develop a comprehensive multimodal connectivity plan, the source said.

 PM GatiShakti National Master Plan  is ready and available for infrastructure planning by all Central Ministries and State Governments.

“Department of Telecom, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Food & Public Distribution have started using the platform for infrastructure planning and decision making,” the source said.

COMMENT NOW