‘Tech integration and robust cold chain infra vital for perishables, pharma products’

Sunil Kohli, MD, Rahat Cargo said, “There is no gainsaying the fact that India is equipped with ideal geographical locations and has been steadily growing towards an enhanced economy apart from improving an all-round infrastructural support yet there are several other factors to be considered while trying to make the country as a global transshipment hub. As regards National Logistics Policy, it has taken various aspects of logistics into account knitting together all the dimensions, but the question remains that which agency will be entrusted upon these jobs whether warehousing, different modes of transport, packaging and metal handling. For example, for agri products, the temperature plays a major role in retaining their longevity hence transfer from a cold place to a warm one may cause deterioration of contents if not strictly taken care of with essential cooling facilities being in place to a transhipment hub. Thus, maintaining a robust cold chain is vital which is likely to encounter default in absence of proper infrastructure. Therefore, in regard to the goods especially the perishables it is vital to have these quality wise intact till the last mile delivery. Hence, in our opinion, several essential and adequate steps need to be taken to plug all the existing loopholes in the present system in logistics before India is considered fit to be declared a global transhipment hub.