Set up standalone logistics unit: PM’s advisory council

New Delhi, Jan. 13: Setting up a separate logistics department and introducing one permitone tax system for trucks, among other measures, will boost the transport sector and improve ease of doing business, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has suggested.

These suggestions form part of the Bibek Debroyled Logistics Development Committee’s report titled ‘Key Challenges in Logistics Development and the Associated Commerce — Policy Reforms for Ease of Doing Business/Trade in India’ which was submitted to Prime Minister recently.

Outlining the need for supporting the truck industry, the panel has suggested that the government should create an independent department focusing on logistics and trade facilitation space by upgrading the existing Logistics Division under the commerce ministry.

“Introduce the One Nation, One Permit, One Tax system by amending Motor Vehicles Act as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee.

“Also suitably amend the provisions of Motor Transport Workers Act to incentive trucking industry to increase its scale and size,” the committee suggested.

As per the one permitone tax system, all truck permits will be valid across the country.

It also pitched for reduction and rationalisation of rail freight tariff structure, at least on select pilot routes (Delhi-JNPT, Delhi-Mundra etc).

According to the report, the government should target increasing rail modal share by improving predictability in railway services, rationalising railway tariffs and expediting Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) commissioning.

The committee also pitched for developing Common Development Plans for revival of railway sidings near major airports for promoting multi-modal air-rail connectivity and easing last mile connectivity to airports.