Author: Cargo Insights

New 6-lane highway to enhance port connectivity and ease congestion from JNPA to Chowk. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the construction of a six-lane access-controlled Greenfield Highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra, covering 29.219 km. The project, valued at ₹4,500.62 crore, will be developed under the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) mode. This initiative aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, enhancing road infrastructure to support increasing container traffic at JNPA and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Currently, vehicles face heavy congestion, taking 2-3 hours to reach NH-48 and the Mumbai-Pune…

Udyam Utsav at Rashtrapati Bhavan from March 20–30, 2025, showcases India’s rich MSME heritage and entrepreneurial spirit. The Ministry of MSME is set to host Udyam Utsav at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan, from March 20 to 30, 2025, celebrating India’s diverse Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). President Smt. Droupadi Murmu will grace the event’s opening on March 20, alongside ministry officials. The event features seven thematic pavilions, highlighting Heritage & Handicrafts, Green MSME Technologies, Women Entrepreneurs, Khadi & Village Industries, and more. Around 60 stalls will display and sell artisan-crafted goods. A dedicated section on the PM Vishwakarma Scheme…

WFS and Kuehne+Nagel team up at Frankfurt Airport to streamline import cargo clearances and reduce delivery times. Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company, has partnered with global logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel in a pilot project aimed at expediting import cargo clearances at Frankfurt Airport. The initiative, developed by WFS’ E-commerce & Freight Forwarder Handling (EFFH) team and Kuehne+Nagel Frankfurt, focuses on enhancing operational efficiency by reducing waiting times and minimising storage fees. A dedicated trucking control tower schedules truck movements between the FCS and Kuehne+Nagel Gateway warehouses, streamlining communication and accelerating cargo delivery. Early results indicate notable improvements, with WFS/FCS…

The Ministry of Railways advances freight capacity with DFC completion, modernization, and enhanced logistics infrastructure. The Ministry of Railways has made significant strides in enhancing India’s freight infrastructure, with the construction of two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) nearing completion. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Sonnagar (1337 km) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) to Dadri (1506 km) now boast 96.4% operational capacity, covering 2741 route kilometers out of a total of 2843 km. Work on the remaining sections is underway. New Dedicated Freight Corridors under review The Ministry is…

ULIP crosses 100 crore API transactions, enhancing automation, real-time tracking, and sustainability in Indian logistics. The Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) has reached a remarkable milestone, recording over 100 crore API transactions, reinforcing its role in transforming India’s logistics landscape. Launched under the National Logistics Policy in 2022, ULIP integrates 43 systems from 11 ministries through 129 APIs, covering 1,800+ data fields. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal praised ULIP’s impact, highlighting its contribution to easing business processes and making Indian logistics globally competitive. The platform bridges critical data gaps, enabling real-time cargo tracking, streamlined regulatory compliance, and…

The 89th NPG meeting assessed major infrastructure projects to enhance multimodal connectivity under PM GatiShakti. The 89th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), chaired by Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, reviewed eight key infrastructure projects across Road, Railway, and Metro sectors. The focus was on improving multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in line with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. Among the road projects, the group assessed the Darugiri to Dalu highway upgrade in Meghalaya and India’s first under-river road tunnel across the Brahmaputra. Railway projects included expanding the Badlapur-Karjat line in Maharashtra and enhancing Odisha’s freight corridors.…

India’s push for futuristic transportation takes a leap with Hyperloop tech development at ICF Chennai. India’s journey towards revolutionising transportation is gaining momentum as the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai takes on the development of electronics technology for the Hyperloop project. Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this milestone after visiting the Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras Discovery Campus, home to Asia’s longest 410-meter Hyperloop test tube. The project, driven by indigenous innovation, has already delivered promising test results. Vaishnaw highlighted the ICF’s proven expertise, having developed large electronic systems for Vande Bharat high-speed trains, and expressed confidence…

India and New Zealand embark on FTA talks to boost trade, enhance market access, and strengthen economic ties. India and New Zealand have officially launched negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a pivotal step in deepening their economic partnership. The announcement came ahead of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The initiative was formalised during a meeting between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay on March 16, 2025. The FTA aims to enhance supply chain integration,…

Merchandise exports shrink to $36.91B; trade deficit moderates to $14B. India’s merchandise exports fell by 10.9% to $36.91 billion in February, while imports dropped 16.3% to $50.96 billion, easing the trade deficit to $14 billion, as per commerce department data. Despite these challenges, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal expressed optimism about reaching $800 billion in combined exports of goods and services in FY25. Global trade faces mounting pressures from rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and potential trade wars. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) projected a 3.3% rise in global trade for 2024, driven equally by goods and services.…

Delhi Metro to transport cargo during non-peak hours, aiming to ease road traffic and reduce pollution. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has joined forces with Blue Dart to launch an urban logistics service, transporting cargo across Delhi-NCR using metro trains during non-peak hours. Initially, the last coach of select trains with minimal passenger movement will carry packages, with no plans yet to use intermediate coaches. Following successful trials on the Blue Line, DMRC sees this initiative as a step towards diversifying its revenue streams beyond passenger fares. The move is expected to reduce reliance on road freight, easing traffic congestion…

Domestic coal production rises 5.45% in 2024-25; logistics ensure steady power supply. India’s coal production continues to rise, ensuring energy security with a record 997.826 million tonnes (MT) produced in 2023-24 — an 11.71% increase from the previous year. In 2024-25, production reached 929.15 MT (provisional) up to February, marking a 5.45% growth over the same period last year. For FY 2025-26, the Ministry of Power projects a domestic coal requirement of 906.1 MT, which aligns with the Ministry of Coal’s supply plan. As of March 10, 2025, coal stocks at power plants stand at 53.49 MT — a 20.20%…

India’s premier intralogistics and warehousing event returns, promising a larger platform for innovation and collaboration. Intralogistics & Warehousing Expo (IWE) 2025 is set to make a grand return from May 22-24 at the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC), Moshi. Now in its third edition, the event will span 10,000 sq. mt., bringing together over 200 leading companies in warehousing, material handling, logistics automation, and supply chain solutions. Strategically located near key industrial hubs, PIECC offers enhanced accessibility and expanded networking opportunities. The event boasts a stellar lineup of partners, including Gandhi Automations, Jungheinrich Lift Truck India, and Action…