HIGHLIGHTS

The strategy involves a reset of India’s logistics sector from a ‘point-to-point’ model to a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model. Government of India aims at setting up 400 regional airports with facilities for pre-cooling cold storages among other logistics solutions. The establishment of multi-modal logistics hub near airport where air cargo potential exists will certainly ease all processes providing just-in-time cargo facilities with reduced cost. It’s never too late but the acceleration that has started with the new regime should take every pending issue within proper timeframe and strict monitoring of performance of contractors or be it Public Private Partnership. So far, highways, ports, inland waterways and railways were part of the multi-modal logistics hubs initiatives in India. Those hubs would now be logistically complete by establishing the vital link with aviation sector. Any single mode of transport cannot perform effectively unless it is a part of a multimodal transport system. The challenge will be to create a smooth chain to make multi-modal successful, as even currently we find some delays in air-to-air sector itself. The common IT platform and single window is the only solution otherwise this may lead to a bigger issue.