The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) signed MoU for the development of framework and assessment of logistics cost in India. It aims to develop a detailed framework for assessment of and make a comprehensive study for assessment of logistics cost for year 2023-24 and assessment of differentials in logistics costs across routes, modes, products, types of cargo, and service operations. The MoU, signed by Anil Sharma, Secretary and Operations Director, NCAER,  and Surendra Ahirwar Joint Secretary, DPIIT will also involve identification of major determinants along with influence on the logistics in different sectors. This MoU envisages NCAER to conduct the detailed study and submit the report within a years’ time.

C K Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight shares, “Rainproofing cargo during the monsoon season is crucial for several reasons like rain can cause significant damage to cargo, especially to goods sensitive to moisture. Ensuring proper rainproofing can prevent financial losses and preserve the quality and integrity of the products. Moist environments can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can ruin goods and make them unsafe for use or consumption. Proper rainproofing helps mitigate this risk. In summary, rainproofing cargo during the monsoon season is an essential practice to protect goods, maintain supply chain efficiency, comply with regulations, and ensure customer satisfaction.

Sandeep Kulkarni – Chief Operating Officer – Allcargo Gati Limited says, “Meticulous planning and a sturdy infrastructure is vital for cargo safety during the monsoons. Route optimization is required to guide vehicles through strategically selected fastest routes to minimize risks and improve the dependability of deliveries by leveraging technology. Few strategies undertaken are: Implementing real time tracking systems to monitor continuous movement of shipments and adjust routes promptly based on weather updates. Furthermore, we endeavour to assure secure storage facilities and safety of consignments so that cargo reaches intact and on time despite the challenging situations.”

  Rohit Chaturvedi, Partner, Transport and Logistics, Government, Infrastructure, Development sector Advisory Services, Forvis Mazars in India said, “Ensuring cargo safety during the monsoon season is critical to prevent damage and delays. Effective measures include using waterproof packaging, securing goods properly, and planning routes to avoid flood-prone areas. Regular maintenance of transportation vehicles and real-time weather monitoring can also help in navigating through adverse conditions. Furthermore, leveraging technology like humidity sensors for remote, real-time monitoring of cargo conditions enables proactive interventions. This is crucial for maintaining optimal humidity levels, particularly for sensitive cargo transported across different states.”

Sushant Nigam, Executive Director, ACAAI shares, “Monsoon may have its adverse effects on the EXIM shipments, so industry should be prepared for it well-in-advance. All the key stakeholders, like shippers, agents, airlines and the cargo terminal operators must ensure safe & secure handling by appropriate packaging, protected transportation and covered storage. Proper handing or taking over of the shipments between the stakeholders at any stage during carriage should be discrepancy-free otherwise liability to be ascertained and fixed.”

Dipen Lalsodagar, Deputy Director, Cargo Sales Global Aviation Services shares, “During monsoon, water logging at warehouses is a major problem, due to heavy rains. We need infrastructure upgradation like quick water drainage system. Airports should implement a minimum standard for cargo packing material for better handling and to avoid cargo claims. Customs should allow Built Up Units (BUPs) to avoid multiple handling during supply chain.”

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics shares, “Technology is the key to all. When we handle large volumes of cargo or large infrastructure, to maintain that we need to have a technology. The recent accident at the Delhi airport could have been avoided if we have a preventive maintenance with the help of AI, ML or the prevailing technologies. Same applies to the cargo warehouses. If we are equipped with better surveillance equipment, better reporting analytical software, we can have a better decision-making power. As a forwarder, when we handle cargo in a volatile market, with the predictive analysis, with the help of data analytics, we can predict the market of the future and can suggest the shipper to act accordingly. Disruptions in the cargo industry are always going to be there, as a service provider, we should always gear up with the alternate solution to the shipper and the consignee with the best possible solution.”

Nomita Kothari, CEO, New Globe Logistik LLP shares, “As logisticians, we must always be well-prepared in advance and be ready to deal with any unforeseen circumstances, and also make sure it doesn’t affect business and relationship with customers.  We need to train and up-skill our workforce to take proactive measures especially during Monsoons to prevent delay and damage. It is imperative that cargo movement is not affected for which we need to act efficiently using risk mitigation options. There should be an honest and clear communication with the customers on shipment status. Communication plays a very important role – not only with customers, but also with the airlines, custodians, truckers etc. Understanding the issues, taking preventive measures and innovative ways to timely resolve the issues is imperative.”

“It is our dream to see Madhya Pradesh becoming cargo hub in the coming years,” said Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, who was invited as a Chief Guest at ACFI Annual Conclave held in New Delhi. He added, “We have seven airports at present and we have plans to increase the number. We have started work on our ambitious project – ‘Future-Ready MP’ under which we are working on improving multimodal connectivity, developing National Highways, linking MP with Delhi-Mumbai freight corridors, we have inter-state air services started already and we have single window system too. We want the industry to come to Madhya Pradesh and consider it as a manufacturing and cargo hub as there’s lot of potential.” ACFI conclave titled, Unlocking Potential: Paving way for a developed India witnessed participation of industry experts from all across the country and even internationally. Guest of Honour included: Dr Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Adviser, MoCA.

In FY 2023-24, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB/BLR Airport) continues to serve as the No. 1 Airport in India for exporting perishables for the fourth consecutive year. During this fiscal year, BLR Airport recorded a total perishable cargo tonnage of 63,188 metric tons (MT), marking an impressive 18% growth compared to the previous fiscal year. This achievement highlights BLR Airport’s significant contribution to India’s perishable exports, handling 28% of the country’s total perishable cargo. BLR Airport also processed 44% of the south India’s total perishable cargo and 28% of the national share for FY 2023-24. While BLR Airport excels in exporting a variety of perishable goods throughout the year, it secured the number one position for poultry product exports in FY 2023-24, shipping an impressive 47,041 metric tons. Additionally, the airport exported 2,050 metric tons of flowers. Overall, poultry, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and flowers emerged as the leading perishable cargo categories. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer at Bangalore International Airport Limited, added, “We are immensely proud of our consistent and continued growth and leadership in perishable exports in FY 2023-24. This milestone reflects our commitment to excellence in an unbroken cold chain and the trust placed in us by our partners and customers. We have accounted for 44% of the total perishable cargo export share in the South India region, transforming BLR Airport into the premier gateway to South and Central India. Our focus remains on enhancing infrastructure and services to support the growing demand for perishable goods and further solidify our position as a key player in global trade.” As an important gateway, BLR Airport significantly enhances connectivity, linking Indian producers with key international markets. The airport’s extensive network …