Nitin Gadkari emphasizes green logistics at FFFAI Convention

In a bid to reduce emission, protect the ecology and reduce logistics cost drastically, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, minister of road transport & highways, suggested the logistics Industry to go green by using alternative fuel like LNG and ethanol.

He informed that efforts are on to introduce ethanol in the transport sector as well. While addressing the 24th Biennial Convention of FFFAI, which was held in Chennai from August 12-14, 2022, Gadkari said that customs brokers, freight forwarders and other logistics service providers are the major stakeholders behind the success of increasing international trade in the country.

He commended FFFAI for choosing the theme of the convention: "Logistics – Reshape, Embrace and Surge in the Digital Era", which is in line with the prime minister's vision pertaining to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan focused on strengthening multimodal logistics infrastructure and transportation. The theme is also apt to achieve the Hon'ble Prime Minister's goal of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' while the Convention is taking place on the eve of celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

Gati Shakti is a digital platform which brings 16 ministries, including railways and roadways together, for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects for industrial clusters and economic nodes.

He highlighted the importance of the proposed 35 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) under 'Bharatmala Pariyojana'. It is pertinent to mention that the CCEA, while approving the Bharatmala Pariyojana Scheme, approved investment plan for Phase-I with a Road length of 34800 km. MoRTH is preparing a Note for approval towards the remaining national highways/expressways which were included in Bharatmala Pariyojana, but not covered under Phase-I.

Minister also informed that the ministry of road transport and highways plans to develop 26 greenfield expressways as part of the PM Gati Shakti project. Some of the major Expressways and Corridors which are under construction stage include Delhi - Mumbai Expressway, Ahmedabad -Dholera Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, and Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway.

According to Gadkari, with the ambitious multi-modal connectivity and logistics infrastructure projects Indian manufacturers and agri-producers will be able to grab untapped markets in South and South East Asia by creating successful transhipment hubs.

Emphasising on developing the Inland waterways the Hon'ble Minister informed that new economic zones have to be developed consisting of manufacturing units and warehousing facilities, cold storage facilities, etc alongside the waterways further extending multimodal connectivity.

As a result of the above initiative, he said, there is a tremendous potential for the logistics industry to grow both in terms of investment opportunities and services. He appealed to the private sector to collaborate with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to be part of the ministry's ambitious projects to ensure a better future. "This is the time to accept the changes of the eco-system to safeguard your future with all support from the government," he concluded.

Shankar Shinde, chairman, FFFAI said the logistics industry is highly optimist about the ambitious projects of the ministry of road transport & highways, which would have a tremendous impact on the logistics industry in India in terms of lessening the logistics cost and dwell time thereby making Indian products competitive in the international market. He appreciated the Minister's untiring efforts with innovative ideas to streamline India's logistics operations over the last several years.