NTDPC pushes for formation of nodal agency for logistics
In view of the lack of coordination between various ministries at the Central Government as well as state government levels, the National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC), Government of India will recommend to set up a nodal agency for logistics.
speaking at the Conference on Multimodal Logistics, which was recently organised by PHD Chamber; BN Puri, Consultant Planning Commission (Transport) and Member-Secretary, NTDPC maintained that there is an urgent requirement of a nodal agency for logistics. “We are seriously considering the matter at the Planning Commission and will recommend the forming of a nodal agency for logistics industry by the Government of India,” said Puri.
The Conference was attended by more than 120 delegates that included senior government officials from Ministry of Railways, senior officials from embassies; senior officials from private companies working in the logistics sector, consultants specialising in logistic sector; representatives from the industry; media and more.
The PHD Chamber appealed for the creating of adequate infrastructure for multimodal transport and logistics industry, to keep pace with the projected growth of manufacturing, domestic economy and export market. According to Saurabh Sanyal, Executive Director, PHD Chamber, India has experienced fast-paced growth over the last decade. Though the growth has primarily come from the services sector, manufacturing and exports have also risen substantially. Logistics, as a function, is being increasingly outsourced by manufacturers. However, the Indian logistics sector in many ways still lags behind the global standards of performance. He emphasised that with more and more players from the manufacturing sector relying on multimodal transportation, the potential for this segment of logistics is enormous. A coordinated approach is required from an empowered government body to oversee all infrastructure projects spanning road, rail, air, coastal shipping and inland waterways.
RS Bedi, Chairman, Task Force on Logistics Management, PHD Chamber emphasised that for developing an efficient intermodal/multimodal transport system, there is a need to look into the three principal issues which are infrastructure development, regulatory/policy reforms and investment in technology. Poul V. Jensen, Director, European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) also emphasised that technology is one of biggest drivers for the logistics industry.
Vinod Asthana, Managing Director, Central Railside Warehouse Company (CRWC), in his presentation, stated that logistics has become a fast-expanding business that includes transportation, warehousing, preservation, packaging, and other value-added services. He also stated that Containerisation, Development of Highways, Development of Ports, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Railside Warehousing, Free Trade Warehousing Zones, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) and National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) are some of the key initiatives taken by the government for the development of the logistic sector. He highlighted various issues that the logistic industry of the country is facing. Asthana advocated for a Regulatory Body for the development of the logistic sector.
BB Pattanaik, Managing Director, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) stated that due to poor quality of infrastructure, the multimodal logistic industry of the county is facing a huge problem. For example, rail infrastructure in the last 10 years has grown slowly, and the use of inland water bodies has not been utilised optimally.