Safety, intelligence, and multimodal integration are redefining how complex cargo moves across India. From AI-driven dangerous goods compliance to data-led air cargo and optimised road–rail–sea networks, technology is delivering safer, greener, and more predictable logistics outcomes.
Safety and compliance in dangerous goods
Handling hazardous cargo demands exacting standards. Radharamanan Panicker, MD, Dangerous Goods Management, explains, “Dangerous goods demand strict adherence to international and national regulations; there is no room for error. Embed safety and compliance into daily operations: pre-check shipments, gather complete information early, and advise clients honestly. Continuous staff training is essential.”
Technology plays a crucial role in compliance, “AI-driven DG declaration tools instantly validate entries, reducing documentation errors. IoT sensors monitor temperature, pressure, vibration, humidity, and gas leaks in real time for chemicals, peroxides, cryogenic cargo, and lithium batteries. Barcode and RFID systems accelerate warehouse checks, ensuring faster, reliable acceptance by carriers.”
Panicker underscores sustainability alongside safety, “Packaging integrity is non-negotiable. Reusable drums, IBCs, and wooden boxes must meet UN-approved standards. Optimised packaging reduces waste without compromising safety. Digital documentation cuts paper usage, and reconditioned containers support circularity, but safety always comes first.”
Safety first, sustainability always safety-gated
This integration of technology and training ensures that dangerous goods move reliably and safely while aligning with corporate sustainability goals, reinforcing the dual priorities of operational integrity and environmental responsibility.
Air cargo intelligence
Air cargo is increasingly intelligence-led. Arun Chandra, Vice President, Aviation Business, BIAL, shares, “AI and data intelligence are indispensable. Efficiency, precision, and predictability shape turnaround times and cost-effectiveness. Our Airport Cargo Community System connects airlines, Customs, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and trucking partners on a single platform for predictive planning and seamless movement.”
On operational innovation, “The Airport Truck Management Facility handles over 1,600 trucks daily, reducing average turnaround from four hours to one, with 78 percent entering within 20 minutes. IoT-enabled infrastructure, automated scanners, and self-check kiosks ensure visibility, while integrated dashboards provide real-time operational insights.”
On sustainability, Samuel explains, BLR Airport runs on 100 percent renewable electricity and has achieved net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions ahead of 2030. Solar installations, LED lighting, EV and biofuel ground support equipment, and ATMF-enabled congestion reduction all contribute to greener logistics. With ACI Level 5 Carbon Accreditation, first in Asia, we invest in EV charging hubs, low-emission mobility, waste recycling, and rainwater harvesting.”
AI anticipates demand and de-risks cargo operations
These investments illustrate how AI, digital integration, and renewable energy converge to reduce costs, emissions, and dwell times while improving predictability and stakeholder confidence in air cargo operations.
Harnessing India’s multimodal potential
Chaitaly Mehta, Director, EKF Logistics, highlights the backbone of India’s domestic and global logistics: “Road–ocean and road–air combinations dominate because they connect most origins and destinations efficiently. For hinterland cargo, rail becomes critical. Factory-stuffed containers rely on rail–ocean and rail–road–ocean combinations, improving transit time and cost efficiency.”
She points out the untapped potential of coastal shipping, “Coastal shipping remains underutilised. From Goa to Nhava Sheva, Nhava Sheva to Mundra or Kandla, and east–west coast movements, coastal freight could cut costs, reduce dwell times, and speed export dispatches. Air and sea remain essential for perishables, pharmaceuticals, live animals, exhibition cargo, and time-sensitive shipments.”
Technology drives multimodal integration; “IoT sensors, GPS, RFID, environmental monitors, and tools like JioTag provide granular real-time visibility. AI and machine learning optimise routes, predict demand, and enable predictive maintenance. 5G and V2X communication improve real-time decision-making. Cloud platforms, integrated digital ecosystems, Mobility-as-a-Service frameworks, EDI, and blockchain ensure seamless coordination across modes.”
Coastal shipping remains India’s untapped logistics opportunity
By combining modal optimisation, predictive intelligence, and IoT-driven visibility, India’s multimodal logistics ecosystem is moving toward fluidity, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.
