Author: Cargo Insights

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari envisions Indian highways exceeding US road quality, predicts major EV adoption and logistics cost reduction. Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, has declared that Indian roads will surpass US highways in quality within the next two years. Speaking at the Times Drive Auto Summit and Awards 2025 on March 25, he highlighted rapid advancements in infrastructure, emphasising that the upcoming transformations will elevate India’s road network beyond global benchmarks. Gadkari also projected that India will outpace the US in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and manufacturing within five years, aligning with the government’s…

Kochi-based Driver launches same-day delivery in Kerala, ensuring faster logistics and improved customer satisfaction. Driver, a Kochi-based logistics provider, has introduced a Same-Day Delivery service across Kerala, streamlining cargo movement and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Businesses can now dispatch goods within the state and have them delivered the same day, significantly reducing transit times. According to Rashad M., Executive Director of Operations & Business Development, this initiative leverages the company’s expertise in Multi-User Facility Warehouses and Partial Truckload (PTL) services. The integration of these solutions enables businesses to accelerate growth through improved turnaround times. Driver’s PTL network spans Kerala, Tamil…

CAG and IIM Mumbai sign MoU to improve public sector logistics, supply chain, and inventory management through advanced training.  The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai to enhance efficiency and transparency in public sector logistics, supply chain, and inventory management. The agreement was formalised in the presence of CAG K Sanjay Murthy and IIM Mumbai Director Manoj Tiwari. This collaboration aims to strengthen the auditing capabilities of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IAAD) by leveraging IIM Mumbai’s expertise. The institute will provide research,…

R Vaidhyanathan to take over as Global CFO of TVS Supply Chain Solutions from April 1, 2025, as part of a leadership transition. TVS Supply Chain Solutions has appointed R Vaidhyanathan as its new Global Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective April 1, 2025. Vaidhyanathan, currently serving as Deputy Global CFO, will be based in Chennai and report to Managing Director Ravi Viswanathan. Raviprakash Bhagavathula, the outgoing Global CFO, will transition to the role of Head of Strategic Initiatives in Singapore, continuing to report to Viswanathan. Since joining TVS SCS in 2019 as Group Financial Controller, Vaidhyanathan has played a key…

Sourcex India 2025 begins in New Delhi, bringing global buyers and Indian exporters together to expand trade opportunities. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), with support from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, inaugurated the 3rd edition of Sourcex India 2025 on March 26 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. The event was officially opened by Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Government of India. In his keynote address, Sarangi highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s export ecosystem through initiatives like Make in India, Startup India, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. He…

India considers tariff cuts on $23B US imports, aiming to prevent reciprocal duties that could impact its exports. India is considering slashing tariffs on over half of US imports worth $23 billion in a bid to ease trade tensions and counter impending US reciprocal duties. The move, still under negotiation, aims to prevent disruptions to Indian exports, which could face higher tariffs starting April 2. The proposed cuts would affect products currently taxed between 5% and 30%, though essential goods like meat, maize, wheat, and dairy products remain excluded. India is also considering gradual reductions in tariffs on automobiles, which…

National Highways Infra Trust completes its fourth and largest fundraise, strengthening India’s road infrastructure network. The National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) established by NHAI in 2020, has successfully completed its fourth round of fundraising, raising ₹18,380 crore. This marks the largest monetization transaction in India’s road sector. NHIT secured around ₹8,340 crore in unit capital from domestic and international investors and ₹10,040 crore in debt from domestic lenders. The funds will be used to acquire highway stretches across Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh at a concession value of ₹17,738 crore. A notable…

Hisar Airport and a new thermal power unit set to enhance connectivity and energy infrastructure in Haryana. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the newly developed Hisar Airport and a cutting-edge thermal power unit in Haryana on April 14. These projects aim to bolster regional connectivity and reinforce the state’s power infrastructure, paving the way for economic growth. Developed under the UDAN scheme, Hisar Airport promises to enhance air connectivity, making travel more accessible for businesses and residents. The upgraded infrastructure includes a modern terminal, extended runway, and advanced air traffic control systems, positioning Hisar as a…

Massive investments boost road, rail, and air connectivity in Ladakh, transforming the region into a strategic hub. Ladakh’s infrastructure has witnessed remarkable progress since becoming a Union Territory in 2019. Junior Union highways minister Shri Harsh Malhotra, addressing journalists in Leh, termed this development a “tsunami of progress,” with key projects enhancing both civilian and military accessibility. The Centre has allocated ₹20,660 crore for road development alone since 2020. A major highlight is the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway project, with an investment of ₹1.31 lakh crore. This ambitious rail line will reduce travel time between Delhi and Leh from 40 hours to…

India and Singapore sign LOI to advance maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation, paving the way for a Green and Digital Corridor. India and Singapore have taken a significant step towards maritime innovation by signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) to cooperate on digitalisation and decarbonisation in the sector. The agreement was signed by R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, during Singapore Maritime Week. The LOI outlines plans for a Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC), aimed at enhancing collaboration…

ClickPost launches Parth, an AI voice agent to automate NDR resolution and cut Return to Origin rates in e-commerce logistics. ClickPost has introduced Parth, an AI-powered voice agent designed to streamline Non-Delivery Report (NDR) resolution and minimise Return to Origin (RTO) rates in e-commerce. Parth operates round-the-clock, replacing traditional manual NDR calls with human-like voice AI to recover more orders, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance delivery efficiency. Failed deliveries remain a major challenge for India’s e-commerce sector, with nearly 25–30% of Cash on Delivery (COD) orders resulting in RTO. Parth addresses this by instantly engaging with customers, understanding their preferences,…

New policies aim to enhance exports, ease trade processes, and strengthen India’s global market presence. The government has introduced a series of measures to enhance exports and strengthen India’s trade competitiveness. The Foreign Trade Policy, effective from April 1, 2023, focuses on integrating India into global markets and improving trade efficiency. Key initiatives include the establishment of 65 Export Facilitation Centres to support MSMEs and schemes like the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) to promote exports. The RoSCTL scheme supports textile exports, while the RoDTEP scheme, covering 10,642 tariff lines, boosts competitiveness across sectors…