रसद पार्क और टर्मिनल का राष्ट्रीय ग्रिड

Logistics Parks and Terminals (LPTs) are nodes in the supply chain network and are crucial for efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the logistics sector. They handle cargo while in transit for aggregation or disaggregation or shift in mode of transportation. Some of them also provide in-transit warehousing and other value-added services. Connectivity wise, these could be unimodal (road serviced industrial units) or multi modal (airports, seaports, railway good sheds, etc.) The LPTs are presently known by different names such as Inland Container Depots (ICDs), Custom Freight Stations (CFS), Air Freight Stations (AFS), Land Port Terminals (LPT), Private Freight Terminals (PFT) and Free Trade Warehousing Zones

The development and operation of efficient Logistic Parks and Terminals is impeded by multiple challenges such as:

  1. Inadequate availability
  2. Suboptimal use and lack of capacity sharing
  3. High business risk due to low agility in operations
  4. Cumbersome processes of clearances and approvals
  5. Absence of comprehensive and harmonised system standards
  6. Lack of integrated master planning

In order to address these challenges, there is a need for a unified policy framework to catalyze development of LPTs and promote efficiency, agility, resilience and cost effectiveness in their operations. This will be achieved through:

  1. Encouraging investments in LPTs with specific focus at development of MMLPs;
  2. Enabling multiple uses of facilities to optimize resource-use and improve efficiency of the LPT infrastructure;
  3. Enhancing agility of developers/operators to modify attributes as per business requirements;
  4. Facilitation by State Governments and Line ministries, in easing processes and regulations and developing an institutional mechanism for improved co-ordination, planning and monitoring of facilities;
  5. Laying down standards and certification requirements to drive interoperability and promote excellence in performance and
  6. Creating a National Grid of LPTs to enhance transparency, optimize use of network and enable holistic planning
  7. The National Grid would include geo-spatial mapping of LPTs, enumerated with key attributes such as connectivity, physical infrastructure availability, service offerings, vendor availability, etc. The Grid will be integrated with the National Master Plan, to help optimize logistics routes and aid investment decisions. Also, the Grid will be harmonized with DPIIT’s ‘Industrial Information System’.