DFCCIL Managing Director RK Jain recently inaugurated the Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal by flagging off a container carrier freight train. Other senior officials of DFCCIL including Director Operation and Business Development N Srinivas and Director Finance Heera Ballabh were also present on the occasion.This terminal has been commissioned by DFCCIL within a short span of 75 days at New Rewari Station Line No 10 of Western DFC. New Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal is an important terminal for container traffic. For this, an investment of about Rs 8 crore has been made by the GCT operator. The entire terminal access charge will be passed on by the GCT operator to the Indian Railways i.e. DFCCIL. This is a revolutionary change in the existing system of Indian Railways.With the commissioning of this terminal, there is a possibility of an increase of about 30 per cent in container traffic. The terminal will act as a logistics hub for EXIM container traffic under the ‘hub-and-spoke’ policy of the Indian Railways. With the commissioning of Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal, the operational efficiency of goods trains will increase and time and money will also be saved.

MightyFly unveiled the third generation of the Cento aircraft, an autonomous hybrid eVTOL cargo aircraft designed to carry one hundred pounds of cargo for six hundred miles. “The new eVTOL incorporates several novel features including a sleek design that enables operational efficiency, the ability to accommodate a wide range of payload centre of gravity, autonomous centre of gravity determination and a larger cargo bay,” says an official release. “The new eVTOL will also present improved operational efficiency through MightyFly’s Autonomous Load Mastering System (ALMS) component, which will enable the aircraft to autonomously open and close its cargo bay door, receive and eject packages into and from the cargo bay opening, move and secure packages in the cargo bay via an internal positioning and locking system, and sense and compute weight and balance.” MightyFly’s third generation aircraft has been designed to accommodate a relatively large range of payloads’ centre of gravity, which allows for a high degree of variance in cargo contents, densities, constitutions, loading order, and tie-down positions, the release added. “The enlarged cargo bay will allow the delivery of larger packages and goods, including the traditional cooler boxes used to transport donor organs for transplantation and blood bags. It will also benefit additional use cases and businesses in the industries of logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, retail, automotive, and oil and gas, as well as organisations performing humanitarian and disaster relief work, and government’s defence teams executing various logistics and resupply missions.”

Blueflite, a leader in cutting-edge drone technology, announced a partnership with DroneUp, one of America’s autonomous drone delivery companies. The new partnership comes after months of joint collaboration and follows DroneUp’s recent unveiling of its innovative drone autonomous ecosystem. Blueflite’s drones, known for their internal storage and speed, will be used by DroneUp’s delivery system. This ensures fast, safe deliveries within 15 miles of partnered stores. Blueflite, a U.S company, uses American parts to build its drones, as per the press release from Blueflite. “Our alliance with DroneUp heralds a transformative era for last-mile delivery,” says Frank Noppel, CEO, Blueflite. “By pooling our resources and expertise, we’re not just advancing drone delivery technology; we’re making it more accessible and efficient for everyone, setting new industry standards along the way.” As DroneUp plans a phased rollout of the ecosystem in select markets in 2024, Blueflite aims to deliver solutions that will benefit businesses and consumers worldwide. The DroneUp ecosystem combines automated ground infrastructure, a suite of software operating systems and an autonomous drone platform. “Our selection of Blueflite as a partner was based on their innovation capabilities and technological excellence,” says John Vernon, CTO, DroneUp. “Their vision aligns with ours, and we’re excited about the future of our collaboration, as it strengthens the backbone of our drone autonomous ecosystem.” The partnership comes at a time when drone delivery is on the rise across the United States and retailers, QSRs and C-stores look for innovative ways to put goods in their consumers’ hands at a fraction of the traditional delivery cost, as per the press release.

UPS will become the primary air cargo provider for the United States Postal Service. The Atlanta shipping company said Monday that it had received an air cargo contract from the U.S. Postal Service that significantly expands an existing partnership between the two. UPS will move the majority of air cargo in the U.S. for the postal service following a transition period, according to UPS. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. USPS’s current air cargo contract with FedEx Corp. is set to expire in late September. The agency said in a statement that its contract with UPS will be for a minimum of five and a half years. FedEx said in a regulatory filing that it wasn’t able to reach an agreement on mutually beneficial terms to extend its contract with USPS. The company said that negotiations ended on Friday, after extensive talks. FedEx Express will continue to provide air transportation services domestically and to Puerto Rico until the contract expires on Sept. 29. UPS’s contract with USPS takes effect the next day. During FedEx’s third-quarter conference call on March 21, Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere said that the company had provided its services to USPS for more than two decades and that the two sides were still in negotiations.

iThink Logistics has onboarded onto Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The move underlines iThink logistics commitment towards local businesses and small e-commerce sellers by ensuring accessible logistics support in the largely evolving digital landscape. iThink Logistics going live on the ONDC Network unfolds advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Indian e-commerce landscape. Businesses leveraging the Open Network can seamlessly unlock a broader market reach beyond their established territories, providing SMEs and MSMEs access to a vast customer base and enabling them to tap into new markets with broader audiences. This newfound accessibility is coupled with enhanced autonomy, as dependence on established marketplaces minimizes. This empowers all kinds of businesses with greater control over crucial aspects such as brand identity, pricing strategies, and customer relationships. Shireesh Joshi, CBO, ONDC shared, “Logistics is a critical component if you want to conduct your business digitally in the current ecommerce landscape. We welcome iThink Logistics on ONDC Network and we are confident that it will enhance delivery options for the small and medium sellers on the Network.” “At iThink Logistics, our mission of revolutionizing e-commerce aligns perfectly with ONDC’s vision to create an inclusive and unbiased ecosystem for every e-commerce seller and retailer across India. As we join the ONDC Network, it signifies our dedication to democratizing business opportunities for SMEs and MSMEs, enabling them to transcend conventional limits. We are transforming the logistics landscape and fuelling the dreams of myriad entrepreneurs navigating the ever-evolving e-commerce ecosystem in India. Now with ONDC Network, our commitment to fostering an environment where businesses from every nook and corner of the country can thrive becomes stronger. …

Softlink Global along with engineering colleges of Maharashtra launched LogiTHON, a first of its kind hackathon designed to redefine the logistics sector through technology’s transformative power. In today’s economy, logistics acts as the crucial backbone supporting global commerce, while technology serves as the enabling nervous system. LogiTHON symbolises the fusion of these two vital components, aiming to propel logistics operations into a new era of efficiency and innovation with the help of AI. Commenting on Indila’s first such initiative to aware the potential and opportunities in the logistics sector, Amit Maheshwari, CEO of Softlink Global, said, “With LogiTHON, we’re not just pursuing technological breakthroughs, we’re aiming to spotlight the pivotal role logistics plays in powering our economy. It’s an initiative to foster innovation and educate the next generation of engineers about the vast opportunities available in a sector that’s constantly expanding and evolving. Through this event, we’re opening doors to new possibilities and careers in logistics, backed by the latest technological advancements.” The hackathon invites participants to tackle four critical challenges, representing current and future roadblocks faced by the logistics Industry. These challenges include Revolutionizing Warehouses with AI and Robotics where innovators will be tasked with designing intelligent warehouse management systems that integrate AI and robotics. These solutions are expected to enhance both speed and precision, keeping pace with the ever-increasing demand for rapid fulfilment services. Second challenge would be on Blockchain for Secure International Supply Chains, focused on leveraging blockchain technology. While in Optimizing Routes in Real-Time challenge contestants will develop dynamic route optimization algorithms for international trade. These algorithms should consider cost, time, and environmental impact, optimizing shipping routes in real-time. Lastly the Self-Learning AI for Data Conversion, …

DP World started dedicated rail freight service seamlessly linking Sachana-Ahmedabad Inland Container Depot (ICD) to Mundra. Operating every Tuesday and Friday, the new service aims to support EXIM from Ahmedabad and surrounding regions by offering a specialized train service, thereby enhancing business efficiency for customers. DP World’s dedicated service offers numerous benefits for businesses in and around Ahmedabad, including cost efficient and sustainable cargo movement and value-added services. Precisely scheduled deliveries from ICD Sachana-Ahmedabad to Mundra will ensure an assured transit of 24 hours. DP World’s reliable service assures departures every Tuesday and Friday, providing businesses with a dependable transportation option. This initiative is expected to result in approximately a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions. Additionally, cargo owners utilizing DP World rail service will be presented with a sustainability certificate, acknowledging their effort and commitment towards minimizing their carbon footprint. Commenting on the launch of the new Service, Mr. Adhendru Jain, Vice President of Rail and Inland Terminals, Subcontinent, DP World, “We are bridging commerce with efficiency and sustainability. Our new rail freight service from Sachana-Ahmedabad to Mundra port gives customers assured connectivity to the port and will help make the supply chain more predictable. This service is part of our ongoing efforts to deliver comprehensive logistics solutions that support the growth of business communities exploring newer export markets.” DP World will provide cargo owners with a sustainability profile that highlights the reduction of CO2 emissions achieved by each user of this new service.

Allcargo Terminals Limited has introduced myCFS 2.0, an advanced version of its myCFS digital portal and mobile application. In line with its mission to offer digital technology-led customer convenience, the portal comes with a bouquet of 18 improved utility features that will bring convenience of faceless, contactless and paperless digital services from the comfort of the customer’s home or office or during travel. The myCFS 2.0 has managed to digitalise 67 percent of the customer interactions in CFS. The myCFS 2.0 enables 67 percent of the process for clearance of cargo at the CFS to be done digitally. Allcargo Terminals Limited myCFS portal and mobile application launched in April 2023, offers a one-stop solution for convenient, contact-less CFS services. The upgraded version is now more user-friendly, offering accurate nomination of containers, real-time container status updates, uploading documents online for customs examination, import de-stuffing, export carting and makes the clearance process faster Commenting on the launch of myCFS 2.0, Suresh Kumar R, Managing Director, Allcargo Terminals Limited said, “We have developed myCFS 2.0 in sync with the growing emphasis towards adoption of new-age tools and technology in the logistics industry. With its enhanced features, myCFS optimises business processes and offers seamless transportation of cargo, leading to reduced waiting line for CHA’s in CFS. myCFS 2.0 aims to strengthen the ease of doing business initiatives of the government. myCFS 2.0 will redefine customer convenience in CFS operations and accelerate adoption of our digital portal amongst customs house agents and companies”. Allcargo Terminals are offering training to CHAs in CFS to help them efficiently utilize the myCFS digital portal. The goal is to leverage digital technologies to simplify the CFS operations, thus boosting …

“Our country’s civil aviation sector is witnessing rapid growth that will also bring different kinds of challenges, there’s a need to look more at security aspects related to air cargo and multimodal transport,” said Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla while addressing the gathering at a function to celebrate 38th Raising Day of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in Delhi. He also emphasised the need for using cutting-edge technologies in various areas, including surveillance. “One area of concern is air cargo, there is need to especially look into the “safety and security of multi-modal transport”. While stressing that all have to put their efforts together, Bhalla said new technologies are creating more problems and the challenges are now about AI (Artificial Intelligence), deepfakes, GPS jamming and others.

In a significant development for India’s logistics sector, GR Logistics Park (Indore) Private Limited (GRIP), a subsidiary of G R Infraprojects Ltd. (GRIL), and PSA Ameya (PSA), a subsidiary of PSA India, have formalised an agreement to establish an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at the Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Indore. This collaboration comes after GRIP secured the MMLP project and subsequently signed a 45-year concession agreement with National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The MMLP in Indore will provide warehousing, an ICD, a domestic container terminal and a private freight terminal, among other facilities. Under the terms of the partnership with PSA, GRIL will oversee the development of the entire MMLP facility, while PSA will manage the containerised rail operations. Leveraging PSA’s leadership in container port operations and its presence at Nhava Sheva Port (Navi Mumbai), the collaboration aims to provide doorstep delivery of logistics services to industries in the region. This partnership, PSA’s first venture into the operation of a rail ICD in India, not only marks a significant milestone in the development of the MMLP Indore project, but also signifies the potential for long-term collaboration between the partners on future projects.