CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2026 - Flipbook - Page 31
COVER STORY
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPERATIVE
and transit-time variability.” Meanwhile, he
says, faster development of multimodal logistics
parks and improved port–rail connectivity would
enable more predictable long-haul movement
across national corridors.
Importantly, Srivastava also con昀椀rms strong
industry readiness for diversi昀椀cation once infrastructure reliability matures, noting, “We are
moderately to highly ready to shift a larger share
of freight to rail, coastal shipping, and inland
waterways provided infrastructure and service
reliability improve to commercial standards.” He
adds that predictable service frequency, seamless
昀椀rst- and last-mile connectivity, transparent
pricing, simpli昀椀ed documentation, and digital
booking frameworks will collectively determine
the pace of modal adoption.
Highlighting the growing convergence
between scalability and sustainability across
freight-movement strategies, Patodi emphasises
that “optimising route design are not only environmental priorities but also critical enablers of
pro昀椀tability, scalability, and long-term resilience
against future carbon taxation and fuel-price
volatility.” He reveals that his organisation is
actively working with logistics partners to deploy
next-generation vehicles that comply with evolving
CO₂-emission regulations, strengthening both
operational performance and regulatory readiness.
Air cargo infrastructure represents another
critical dimension of modal readiness, particularly
for high-value and time-sensitive sectors. India’s
ambition to handle 10 million tonnes of air cargo
annually by 2030 re昀氀ects a clear shift toward
expanding aviation-led logistics capacity beyond
metropolitan hubs. As Edward explains, “India
aims to handle 10 million tonnes of air cargo by
2030, which will require transformative changes
across infrastructure, operations, technology,
and sustainability.” These, he mentions, include
smart terminals, robotics-enabled handling
environments, digital-twin capacity planning,
and the development of tier II and III cargo hubs
to ensure seamless feed connectivity across
regional production clusters.
Edward further highlights the strategic
importance of decentralised cargo readiness,
noting, “Strengthening cargo capacity at tier II and
III airports is essential to create seamless feed to
cargo terminals while ensuring 24×7 availability
and faster execution.” Complementing this
expansion, sustainability-aligned infrastructure
such as electric ground-support equipment,
solar-powered warehouses, and support for
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) targets will
strengthen the long-term viability of aviation-led
modal diversi昀椀cation.
Institutional alignment across air-cargo
ecosystems will also remain critical as modal
roles expand. From an industry coordination
perspective, Shah emphasises the importance
of strengthening cargo-centric airport opera-
tions nationwide. He puts across, “Every airport
should function as a cargo airport for EXIM,
alongside deeper stakeholder collaboration
through structured engagement frameworks
that align regulatory priorities with exporter
and importer requirements.”
Reinforcing the broader trajectory of policyaligned infrastructure transformation, Gupta
notes, “Although the country may not yet have
reached its full potential in terms of logistics
e昀케ciency, current developments suggest that
India has already achieved a substantial portion
of its transformation journey. With continued
focus on infrastructure modernisation and policy
alignment, there is strong reason to remain
optimistic about the future direction of India’s
logistics and supply chain ecosystem.”
THE ROAD AHEAD
Bringing these structural shifts together, the
direction ahead for India’s logistics ecosystem
is becoming increasingly clear: the next gains
in transit-time reliability will not come from
infrastructure expansion alone, but from infrastructure synchronisation. As transport corridors
mature and multimodal options deepen, the
competitive edge will increasingly lie in how
seamlessly physical capacity aligns with digital
approvals, predictive visibility platforms, uni昀椀ed
documentation frameworks, and regionally
balanced cargo networks.
In this evolving environment, reliability will
emerge less from bu昀昀ers and contingencies and
more from orchestration and intelligence. The
organisations that adapt fastest will be those
that redesign their supply chain architectures
around integrated corridors, real-time decision infrastructure, and consumption-linked
distribution grids.
Equally, the policy momentum already
visible across connectivity programmes, logistics
digitisation initiatives, and multimodal integration frameworks positions the country to move
decisively toward a future where infrastructure
and information travel together—unlocking
lower variability, stronger modal balance,
improved working-capital e昀케ciency, and a more
responsive nationwide logistics backbone for
the decade ahead.
Air freight is the
fastest-growing
mode, with
10.67% projected
CAGR.
Cold chain
facilities
are expanding
to support
pharmaceutical
and perishable
exports.
Tier II/III airports
are emerging as
critical nodes for
e-commerce.
Major ports like
Paradip handle
record volumes
exceeding 14
MMT monthly.
Predictability is
the main trigger
for shifting road
cargo to rail.
"Humanless"
and "touchless"
logistics are
the next era of
excellence.
CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2026 | 31
