Buzz around logistics

In this annual issue, CARGOTALK gets you a sneak peek into the year gone by. The month of June began on an ambitious note with Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelling to Bangladesh to sign the historic coastal agreement. The pact will facilitate the use of Indian and Bangladesh ports as transhipment hubs and enable direct regular movement of ships containing cargo between the two countries.

With a focus on developing waterways, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has asked states to collaborate with the Centre to pave the way for inland waterways corporations.

The government’s serious focus on port-led development has also prompted the first state-level consultation meet on the Sagarmala Project at the Gujarat Maritime Board and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to enhance knowledge and share expertise regarding port development.

The stalwarts from logistics industry expressed confidence based on the performance clocked in the last financial year (2014-2015). The logistics sector steered out of its bad phase which had been plaguing it for a while. The industry leaders hoped for an uptick in almost all the verticals and are positive about a turnaround.

On the aviation front, Mangalore International Airport is the first to get a dedicated domestic air cargo terminal with private participation.

The Railways sector offered sharp discounts to consumers opting to move freight in empty flow directions. The low tariffs to be announced will enable it to grab a share of traffic from the road sector.