What the Government Has Done

SETTING TRANSPORT MODAL-MIX RIGHT

The logistics wing under the commerce ministry is set to kick off inter-ministerial consultations for finalising the logistics policy. It aims to optimise the modal mix – roads, rail and water – to bring down transport costs. As against the current share of various transport modes – road (60 per cent), rail (31 per cent) and waterways (9 per cent), the government is aiming at global benchmarks of 25-30 per cent (road), 50-55 per cent (railways) and 20-25 per cent (waterways)

WISDOM FROM LOCKDOWN TO TRIGGER CHANGE

One of the key findings of the Covid-19 empowered group on logistics is the need for eliminating the role of multiple authorities to keep tabs on goods vehicles. This will be incorporated in the proposed policy

RELIANCE ON TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITISATION

The government is keen to eliminate paperwork across the supply chain. Integration of data held by various government agencies such as GSTN, Customs, Ports, Freight Operations Information System of Railways will make movement seamless

DIGITAL OVERSIGHT OF VEHICLES

Extensive use of technology to ensure that only high-risk category vehicles, ascertained through data analytics, are stopped by law enforcement authorities. In case other vehicles are stopped, the system will generate an alert, and accountability will be fixed

CONTAINERISATION OF LOCAL FREIGHT

This will help in better tracing and tracking, reduce freight handling costs and help in use of different modes based on traffic flow data. This will also promote multiaxle trailers, reducing the per tonne cost of freight movement