Draft warehousing, logistics policy out

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18

Haryana has unveiled its draft logistic and warehousing policy aimed at creating efficient logistics network to leverage economic opportunities and boost trade competitiveness. The Department of Industries and Commerce has sought feedback from the stakeholders till April 30 on the draft policy.

“The policy aims at enabling quality and cost competitive multi-modal logistics and warehousing infrastructure creation in the state, attracting private sector investments as well as PPP investments in logistics and warehousing sector and creating strong ecosystem for delivering on big ticket industry and infrastructure projects as well as long-term freight planning,” Minister for Industries and Commerce Vipul Goel told The Tribune on Wednesday.

Goel said the policy also aims at creating strong regulatory framework for freight logistics towards increased productivity and reduced red-tape, enhancing the upgradation and adoption of modernised technology in logistics and warehousing and promoting research and development and skill development in logistics and warehousing.

Sources said that the logistics and warehousing industry in India was a thriving one valued at Rs 550 billion and experiencing an upward growth trajectory.

In terms of revenue, this industry is set to expand at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5 per cent between 2015 and 2024 and by volume, at a CAGR of 6 per cent between 2016 and 2024.

As per the World Bank’s, Logistics Performance Index 2016, India’s ranking has been improving, shooting up by 19 places to 35th position, said sources. Haryana enjoys an advantage due to its location, characterised by its geographical confluence with economic corridors.

Sources said that the state has over 60 per cent of its area under Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) covering major districts such as Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Hisar, Sonepat, Manesar, Gurugram and sizeable confluence of Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), resulting in increasing demand for advanced logistics mainly container traffic, bulk and break-bulk cargo.

The Kundli- Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and the Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Bawal is likely to result in large-scale development of logistics and warehousing infrastructure.

Another upcoming economic corridor within the state is Delhi-Hisar-Sirsa which is expected to connect the KMP Expressway to Mumbai and provide a more seamless cross-border movement to Punjab, the sources add.