With participation from over 16 countries, this event marks an international gathering. Mr. Govil was part of the inaugural summit, During FIATARAP2024, Mr. Govil showcases India’s progress in logistics, underlining the country’s dedication to boosting #trade, economic development, and regional links through significant initiatives:

AVIATION
Airports in India have doubled in the past decade to meet growing demand, with the #aviation industry expanding to accommodate increased passenger and #cargo transportation needs. The number of airports has skyrocketed from 74 to 148 in the past decade. The country now has the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, with 519 operational routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of UDAN, connecting 76 airports, two water aerodromes, and nine heliports.

LAND LOGISTICS

1. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs):
– The Eastern and Western #DedicatedFreightCorridors (DFCs) aim to enhance goods transportation efficiency by creating freight-only railway tracks to ease congestion.
The Eastern Freight Corridor (EFC) spans 1,337 km and is operational with 200 daily trains.
The Western Freight Corridor (WFC) spans 1,506 km and is 85% operational, set to be fully functional next year.
DFCs offer faster speeds, averaging 60 kmph and potentially reaching 100 kmph, doubling traditional railway tracks’ speeds.

2. #Bharatmala Pariyojana:
Ambitious highway development project in India:
Aims to improve #road connectivity nationwide, particularly in border and coastal regions, and reduce travel time between major cities.
Involves developing 34,800 km of #NationalHighway corridors, connecting over 580 districts.
Includes constructing 25 greenfield #expressways and access-controlled corridors spanning 9,100 km.
Expected to create #job opportunities for over 100 million people.

3. Industrial Corridors:
India has 11 industrial corridors in the National #Infrastructure Pipeline to boost economic growth, including the Delhi-Mumbai and Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridors focusing on #smartcities and industrial development to improve manufacturing and trade.

4. Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (#LEEP):
Aims to reduce costs and enhance efficiency through #technology and infrastructure upgrades. India aims to decrease logistics costs from 14% to 9% of #GDP. The program plans to establish Multimodal #LogisticsParks in 15 cities to handle 40% of the nation’s #roadfreight.

MARITIME LOGISTICS

1. #Sagarmala Project:
The flagship program under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways aims to modernize ports, improve connectivity, and uplift coastal communities to reduce #logisticscosts and enhance India’s competitiveness. It encompasses 802 projects totaling Rs 5.5 lakh crore to be completed by 2035.

2. Port Modernization and Expansion:
Upgrading existing ports and building new ones for larger cargo volumes.
Need for modernization due to Mega Ships.
#Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala strategically located near international shipping lanes.
Expected to serve 50% of India’s container #transshipment needs.
Development of Vadhavan deep-water #port on India’s western coast to enhance sea and rail links with Europe.

3. Coastal Shipping and Inland Waterways:
Promoting #coastalshipping and #inlandwaterways for eco-friendly cargo transportation to alleviate road and railway congestion.

4. National Logistics Policy:
Establish a single-window e-logistics market
Focus on employment generation, #skilldevelopment, and reducing logistics costs
Improve India’s Logistics Performance Index ranking
Promote multimodal connectivity, infrastructure development, and technological adoption
Emphasize #sustainable options.

TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION

1. Logistics Data Bank (LDB):
RFID, IoT, and #cloud tech in #LogisticsDataBank track container movement at Indian ports, enhancing transparency and efficiency. LDB manages a significant portion of India’s container volume, generating analytical reports on dwell times.

2. #FASTag:
An electronic toll collection system that speeds up travel by reducing delays at toll plazas, with 3.4 billion transactions recorded by the financial year 2023.

3. Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP):
Part of the National Logistics Policy, #ULIP had over 400 companies register within six months. It integrates 33 systems from 7 ministries with 1600+ data sets for real-time data exchange. 68 companies signed Non-Disclosure Agreements to access ULIP’s data. Major companies like DHL, Maruti Suzuki, and Tata Steel are onboarded on ULIP.

4. Digitisation
The Indian Government leads in #digitisation and #paperless customs clearance initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint, surpassing the European Union. Initiatives include Secure QR-coded Shipping Bill, Green Customs promotion, Single Window Interface for Trade (SWIFT), e-SANCHIT online document repository, ICEDASH for customs clearance monitoring, and ‘Atithi’ for international passenger facilitation.

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY

1. International North-South Transport Corridor (#INSTC):
A 7,200-kilometre network linking India, Central Asia, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Europe. With ongoing projects worth $38.2 billion, it aims to improve trade connectivity by offering a more efficient route than traditional maritime paths. It is projected to transport 25 million tonnes of freight yearly by 2030, comprising 75% of container traffic between South Asia, the Gulf, and Europe.

2. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (#IMT Highway):
A 1,360-kilometer route from Moreh, India to Mae Sot, Thailand, developed since 2012 under India’s #LookEast policy. It aims to enhance road connectivity with Southeast Asia, boost regional trade, and create economic opportunities, with plans to extend to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Potential benefits include a USD 70 billion GDP increase and 20 million jobs.

SKILLS INDIA INITIATIVE
The Indian government’s #SkillIndia initiative aims to improve youth employability through skill development. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) provides free courses in IT, coding, digital marketing, and AI.
These initiatives aim to enhance India’s global #supplychain position by establishing a seamless and sustainable logistics network.