No short term benefits

The much-awaited Union Budget 201617 had no direct focus on logistics, especially for the air and sea sectors. Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, has alloted

` 2.80 lakh crore for road and rail. That will be beneficial for providing better multi-modal connectivity. The government’s impetus on increasing the efficiency and modernising of ports and improving the road infrastructure will absolutely provide a fillip to the sector.

However, GST still remains one of the promises that government has to deliver. We hope the government will do a better job with the National Civil Aviation Policy specifically in regard to the air cargo sector.

The Railway Budget has focused on capacity creation by three new freight corridor, rational freight rates, time-tabled freight trains, building logistics park and warehouses on PPP mode and rail-auto hub in Chennai.

On the air cargo front, Delhi International Airport has launched the DIAL Cargo app for end-to-end tracking of shipment for end users. Airlines are expanding their horizons to reap the benefits of boom of e-commerce. Companies are making effort for 100 per cent e-freight adoption, even overseas.

Seeing the boom in the e-commerce companies and their growing interest in investing into their own logistics infrastructure, discussed with logistics service providers about the scenario and why e-commerce companies does not want any interference of 3PL.

On the shipping front, more inland container depots are in line with the aim to increase cargo handling capacity.

And insurance is important in warehousing sector. Goods need protection from many sources such as theft, flooding, fire and more. Read the guest column to know how to safeguard the goods.