M Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight shared, “We are excited about the new Air Cargo Complex (ACC) in Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). It’s a big step forward for the freight forwarding industry. But we really need better infrastructure to make the most of it. The road to the NMIA needs to be improved so that cargo can get there in under an hour. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s absolutely necessary. We need to clear up some questions about the cargo cleared at the old ACC. Will it be bonded and transported by airlines? If so, are there going to be extra charges for that? If they add these costs to the freight without being upfront, it could create unexpected expenses for everyone involved. Plus, if we use bonded trucking from the old ACC and only some of the cargo from an Air Waybill (AWB) gets shipped, what happens to the rest? Will it be loaded onto the plane or put on hold until the balance is ready? If the next flight doesn’t leave for a few days, who pays for the extra storage fees? Also, what’s the plan for screening the cargo? Is it going to be done at both complexes? If we pay Terminal Charges (TC) at the ACC where the cargo is cleared, will there be more charges for screening at the new ACC? Since there’s a brand-new ACC, it would be great if there were spaces for agents to create their pallets, just like in many other countries. If we can tackle these issues and get the right infrastructure in place, it will make everything run much smoother.

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is nearing completion of its state-of-the-art cargo terminal and gearing up for inauguration and operation by August 16, 2025. As per an official statement, NMIA will have dedicated integrated cargo terminal (for both domestic and international) with handling capacity of 0.5 milion tonnes per annum in phase 1 and 2 and will be further scaled up to 3.25 million metric tonnes post completion of final phase. As of now, Adani Group has also announced infrastructure upgradation at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. CSMIA will temporarily shut down a part of its cargo facilities and not have freighter operations from August 16, 2025, ‘until further notice’, as per the official statement. Private and charter planes operating to and from CSMIA will be moved to Navi Mumbai too.  Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has informed operators it is doing so to carry out multiple airside works including building new taxiways for Runway 14/32 to enhance its capacity and bring efficiency in operations. The Navi Mumbai Airport will be inaugurated this June and it may become operational before the Aug 16 deadline for freighter movement at CSMIA, said reports.

GreenLine Mobility Solutions has partnered with Bekaert to decarbonise road logistics with the deployment of GreenLine’s LNG-powered trucks at Bekaert’s Ranjangaon Plant, marking the beginning of a pilot phase that aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Bekaert’s logistics operations. Each GreenLine LNG truck is expected to reduce up to 24 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to Bekaert’s ambition of becoming carbon net-zero by 2050 and achieving 65% of sales from sustainable solutions. Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions said, “Our partnership with Bekaert demonstrates the growing commitment of forward-thinking corporates to drive sustainability at scale. At GreenLine, we are proud to offer not just green trucks, but an integrated ecosystem — from LNG refuelling to real-time telematics — that empowers our partners to make meaningful progress on their net-zero goals.” Dinesh Mukhedkar, Procurement Operations Lead – South Asia and Procurement Global Shared Service Centre Lead, Bekaert, added, “As part of our purpose ‘Establishing the new possible,’ and our ambition to lead in safe, smart, and sustainable solutions, decarbonising logistics is an essential step. This directly supports our commitment to ESG principles and long-term sustainability goals.”    

Safexpress has inaugurated its state-of-the-art logistics park in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Strategically located on NH-334C, GT Road, Bairangpur, Dadri, this facility marks a significant step in enhancing logistics infrastructure in the region. Spread across 2.5 lakh square feet, the Gautam Buddha Nagar facility is equipped with advanced transhipment and 3PL capabilities. It is designed to support the growing warehousing and distribution needs of businesses in the area, ensuring faster and more efficient supply chain connectivity. The cross-dock setup allows simultaneous loading and unloading of over 200 vehicles. An impressive column-free span of over 80 feet enables seamless movement of goods within the facility, while 16-feet wide cantilever sheds provide all-weather loading and unloading operations. Gautam Buddha Nagar is a prominent industrial hub in Uttar Pradesh, renowned for its manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in Noida and Greater Noida. Often referred to as the “City of Apparel” due to its extensive network of garment factories and exporters, the district is a magnet for both domestic and global investors. With well-developed infrastructure, integrated townships, and SEZs, it plays a critical role in the state’s industrial growth. The new Safexpress Logistics Park is poised to bridge critical infrastructure gaps and cater to the rising demand for efficient supply chain services in the region. By enabling faster movement of goods and reliable logistics support, it aims to empower businesses and manufacturers across Uttar Pradesh and beyond. The facility is equipped with modern firefighting systems and trained personnel to handle emergencies. It also incorporates an integrated rainwater harvesting system, a dedicated green zone, and maximizes the use of natural sunlight during the day to conserve energy.

Çelebi Aviation has successfully deployed Taxibots across Bengaluru and Delhi. Taxibots are towbarless aircraft tractors that are fully automated. Unlike traditional methods, where aircraft engines are used to taxi from the gate to the runway, these TaxiBots provide an eco-friendly alternative by towing the aircraft without the need to use the aircraft’s own engines. These state-of-the-art, semi-robotic aircraft towing systems have led to a reduction of over 1,137 tons of aviation fuel (ATF) consumption, eliminating more than 3,500 tons of CO₂ emissions while saving over 427 hours of ground time for airlines and also saving 1429 hours of engine time for aircrafts, which translates into significant financial benefits and sustainable solutions for airline partners. As part of its electrification roadmap, Çelebi is the First ground handling company in India to proactively invest in Taxibot technology, and globally these were first operated on commercial operations in India. The company has currently deployed Taxibot units at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DIAL) and at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BIAL). This initiative directly aligns with global aviation’s carbon neutrality goals and India’s sustainability vision. Additionally, Çelebi Aviation has ensured operational excellence by training 3,592 certified Taxibot crew members, positioning itself as a future-ready ground handling partner. With airlines increasingly prioritizing green solutions, Çelebi’s Taxibot deployment is set to further revolutionize aircraft movement efficiency at major Indian airports.

Crown Worldwide Group has introduced its new custom bonded warehousing service in India, operated under its Crown Workspace & Warehousing division. The new service is designed to provide businesses with a duty-free, secure, compliant and technology-enabled solution for storing high-value imported goods without the immediate payment of customs duty. This strategic initiative aims to streamline import-export operations, ensure superior logistics services and provide global businesses greater agility in managing their supply chains. The bonded warehouse is now operational in Mumbai. It offers ISO-certified, digitally managed, and tamper-proof, dust-free storage designed to handle a wide range of high-value products—including fine wines and spirits, luxury goods and fashion, jewelry, electronics, and general cargo. The facility also supports ESD-safe handling for sensitive electronic items and includes flexible options for bulk and industrial goods. In terms of security, the warehouse is equipped with 24/7 surveillance, restricted access protocols, and full insurance coverage against theft or damage. It is built to meet international standards for safety and operational efficiency, ensuring clients have complete peace of mind. Kavitha Suresh, Assistant General Manager, Workspace and Warehousing- Crown Worldwide Group spoke about this latest venture, “At Crown, we have always looked to push boundaries. The custom-bonded warehousing service integrates technology to provide our clients with a seamless storage and transit experience. Through this new development, we are effectively bridging global benchmarks with local needs. From luxury items to bulk to electrical, electronics, and imported wine & spirits we look forward to catering to all sectors and offering a great experience to our clients.”  

Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO and MD, NICDC and Chairman NLDS in an exclusive interview shared, “The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, driven by innovative government initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, and overall supply chain efficiency. Logistics is a key enabler of economic growth, and efforts such as the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti are instrumental in reducing logistics costs and improving India’s global competitiveness through multimodal integration and streamlined operations. To support this vision, we are implementing the LEAD framework — focusing on Longevity, Efficiency & Effectiveness, Accessibility & Accountability, and Digitalisation — to foster a modern, data-driven logistics ecosystem. In this context, NLDSL has taken a pioneering role in the digital transformation of the logistics sector. Our flagship initiative, the Logistics Data Bank (LDB), launched in 2015, has successfully tracked over 80+ million EXIMcontainers across their journey within India, bringing unprecedented transparency and visibility into container movement. Building on this foundation, we introduced the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) in September 2022, under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. ULIP integrates data from 43 systems of 11 ministries, enabling seamless, digital, and paperless logistics operations. This platform addresses a wide range of industry use-cases, significantly reducing time and costs for stakeholders across the supply chain. Together, LDB and ULIP are not just technological advancements; they are strategic enablers in India’s journey toward becoming a global logistics hub. By enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability, these initiatives are poised to accelerate economic growth, generate employment, and elevate India’s position in the global economy — all contributing directly to the realization of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. These efforts lay the foundation for a world-class, future-ready logistics infrastructure and a digitally empowered …

DHL Express has partnered with Sai Life Sciences to use DHL’s emission-reduced shipping solution – GoGreen Plus (GGP). The partnership provides Sai Life Sciences with a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of up to 90% for its international logistics needs by using SAF. Sai Life Sciences works with over 300 global innovator pharma and biotech companies to accelerate the pace of their drug discovery, development and commercialisation. R.S Subramanian, Senior Vice President – South Asia, DHL Express, said, “Addressing Scope 3 emissions is critical to DHL for achieving the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. GoGreen Plus is a pioneering service that helps our customers address Scope 3 carbon emissions of their critical shipments to global destinations. The Life sciences and healthcare sector is a focus area for growth outlined in our Strategy 2030 and GoGreen Plus is very relevant to key players here who have a committed road map on carbon footprint reduction. We are incredibly proud to have Sai Life Sciences join us on our mission to reduce Scope 3 emissions with GoGreen Plus – the most technically viable option currently available.”

As per Colliers latest reports, with 9 million sq ft of leasing in Q1 2025 at a 15% YoY growth, industrial & warehousing demand across the top eight cities remained robust. Delhi NCR and Chennai led the demand, cumulatively accounting for around 57% of the overall leasing in Q1 2025. The demand for Grade A industrial & warehousing space was particularly impressive in Delhi NCR; the city has already witnessed about half of the leasing activity of 2024 in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Interestingly, across the top eight cities, engineering sector drove demand this quarter, contributing to about 25% of the overall industrial & warehousing space uptake, followed by e-commerce with 21% share. Both these sectors have surpassed the demand from Third Party Logistics (3PL) players, the usual frontrunner. While Chennai and Bengaluru saw strong traction from occupiers in the engineering space, demand from e-commerce players remained significant in Delhi NCR and Mumbai. At a micro market level, Bhiwandi in Mumbai led leasing activity in the first quarter with about 1.0 million sq ft of demand, followed by Luhari (0.9 mn sq ft) in Delhi NCR and NH-16 (0.7 mn sq ft) in Chennai. These three micro markets accounted for significant leasing share in their respective cities during the quarter.