Logistics needs an umbrella body: PHD

The PHD conference was attended by more than 100 delegates and other stakeholders. Pawanexh Kohli, Chief Advisor & CEO, NCCD, GoI, was the Chief Guest at the conference, which was held recently in Delhi.

Stating the lucrative growth of the logistics sector Kohli said, “The sector is expected to grow at CAGR of 16 per cent on an average in the coming years with an inflow of new investments that will create new opportunities for the logistics sector.”

He also laid stress on the fact that to reduce the increased logistic cost and to minimise the wastage in the country, there is a need for integrated logistics policy and an authority which can look at all the aspects related to logistics covering various modes of shipment such as sea, roads and railways.

B.N. Puri, Director-Research, Asian Institute of Transport Development, also emphasised on the need for an umbrella body in the logistics sector. He pointed on the fact that for improving logistics sector infrastructure, creation is necessary but at the same time focus should also be on minimisation of cost and safe transportation of goods in the country.

Vinod Asthana, Treasurer, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-India) & Ex-Managing Director, Central Railside Warehouse Company, stressed on the fact that integration of roads, shipping and inland waterways is the need of the hour.

“The focus should be upon reducing the increased logistics cost in the country,” he added. Asthana also elaborated upon the two major issues, i.e., land availability and inadequate infrastructure that the logistics sector is facing currently and to resolve these issues in an effective manner an authority or an umbrella body is required that can fasten the execution of these unresolved challenges. R.S. Bedi, Chairman - Committee on Logistics Management, PHD Chamber, stated that despite the generally positive economic outlook, logistics costs of exports are very high in India and due to this, Indian goods are less competitive in the global markets. “In India, the container transport is heavily inclined in favour of roads due to high freight rates of railway, unpredictable and unreliable scheduling of freight trains, and poor last-mile connectivity, which is a serious issue of concern,” he explained.