Transformative Measures Unveiled in a Collaborative Effort to Boost India’s Logistics Performance

New Delhi : In a strategic move to enhance India’s standing on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), eleven key Ministries and Departments convened to present their comprehensive action plans during a meeting chaired by Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, MoCI.

The dedicated LPI cell, formed across these ministries, met to assess progress across six pivotal parameters: Customs, Infrastructure, Ease of Arranging Shipments, Quality of Logistics Services, Tracking and Tracing, and Timeliness.

Strategic Initiatives and Best Practices Shared:

During the meeting, Ministries and Departments unveiled their individual action plans to improve logistics efficiency. Noteworthy contributions included:

1. Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI):

Vivek Verma, Secretary of LPAI, highlighted the implementation of the Land Port Management System (LPMS), drastically reducing cross-border dwell time from 57 days to under 24 hours.

2. Ministry of Railways (MoR):

Manoj Gangeya, ED (Planning), outlined initiatives such as 100% electrification of railway tracks, increased CAPEX, and dedicated freight corridors to enhance the speed and volume of freight transport.

3. AAICLAS:

CEO, Ajay Kumar, emphasized airport capacity building in Kolkata and the planned air cargo village in Delhi (Jewar airport) with a targeted completion date of December 2025.

4. Ports:

Rituraj Mishra, Deputy Secretary (Ports), presented initiatives including weighbridge automation, improved scanning facilities, and streamlined processes through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all ports.

5. CBIC:

R. Ananth, Director, CBIC, announced the launch of Custom Revenue Control Laboratories (CRCL) in Guwahati by December 23, supporting chemical analysis of trade commodities.

Closing Remarks and Future Outlook:

Special Secretary Sumita Dawra emphasized the significance of these initiatives, noting their potential to enhance logistics efficiency in India. She encouraged Ministries to share their best practices and interventions with User Ministries and NICDC, fostering a collaborative and objective-based approach in LPI calculations.

This concerted effort by the eleven Stakeholder Ministries/Departments reflects a commitment to transforming India’s logistics landscape, fostering growth and efficiency across sectors. The strategic communication of these initiatives to stakeholders is anticipated to positively impact the perception of the logistics sector in India, marking a pivotal step towards global competitiveness.