Easing various modes of transportation
Managing Director, Asia Shipping India, talks about immediate evaluation of facilities in all modes of transportation of goods with a view to integrate them.
The infrastructural network of the facilities for movement of cargo have, unfortunately, not kept pace with the shift in the nature of goods carried with the rapid industrial development within the country. The development of each mode of transport is being planned and executed in a standalone manner and there is no co-ordination among the various agencies and authorities responsible for development of each one of them.
Movement of goods
Waterways within the country have not been considered a viable option for movement of goods and no serious attempt has been made of utilising whatever seasonal availability is there.
Roads have been the most popular mode of transport for movement of the goods within the country. However, maintenance and development of the highways has not kept pace with the increase in demand. High cost of fuel has also affected the commercial viability of this mode for movement of goods.
As far as movement of goods by air is concerned, lack of infrastructure for handling and transport of goods and higher costs, primarily attributed to high fuel costs, is limiting the use of this mode of transport to the available capacities only. Lack of development of cargo facilities at regional airports has also forced movement of goods by road.
Railways has been carrying most of the burden of transportation of goods. But here also the capacity augmentation has not kept pace with the increase in volumes. Of late, development of dedicated freight corridors has been taken up which is expected to ease the pressure on the existing infrastructure.
All is not lost
But all is not lost as yet. Each one of the modes of transportation is being developed by the concerned agencies. With the stress by the Government on increase in domestic production, particularly aimed at rapid growth in exports, an integrated and holistic approach needs to be evolved for the optimum utilisation and balanced development of infrastructure for movement of goods in the country.
With the stress by the Government on increase in domestic production, a holistic approach needs to be evolved