CAG to submit audit on multi-modal logistics, first-last mile gaps, and digital cargo flow to Parliament next monsoon session.
India’s logistics landscape is set for a crucial review next year as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) prepares to present a detailed report on ‘Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics Initiatives’ in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The report aims to tackle some of the most persistent challenges in cargo movement, from connectivity gaps to rising costs.
To strengthen the findings, the CAG has teamed up with IIM Mumbai, which is serving as the knowledge partner for this audit. In a coordinated effort, an Integrated Audit Group (IAG) has also been formed, bringing together specialists from different verticals, including railways, infrastructure, ports, shipping, and waterways.
Sharing key insights, ADAI (Railways) Pravir Pandey confirmed that the Railway Audit Wing is focusing sharply on improving first-mile and last-mile connectivity linked to logistics hubs, as well as analysing critical Origin-Destination (O-D) cargo routes for 2025–26, both of which greatly influence delivery efficiency.
This initiative comes at a time when Indian Railways is undergoing sweeping reforms. Significant investments are being channelled toward modern infrastructure, enhanced safety, better mobility, customer experience, and commercial performance. Railways is increasingly emerging as a strategic pillar in India’s logistics and trade ecosystem.
Central to this transformation is the government’s National Rail Plan (NRP) 2030, which aims to create a “future-ready” railway system by the end of this decade.
The audit report is expected to make recommendations that could reduce logistics costs, ease business operations, and enable seamless cargo movement through stronger digital integration.
Once tabled in Parliament, these insights could influence policy direction, guide infrastructure investments, and support India’s ambition to build a globally competitive logistics framework.
Source: BS
