Efficient freight (goods) transportation is imperative for stable economy of a nation. Storage and transportation of goods is an extended branch of logistics management and a major competitive force in global business. Rajasthan being the largest state in India offers sizeable opportunities in goods storage and management. Promoting the desert state as ‘growth engine’ at India Integrated Transport & Logistics Summit organized in Delhi, CM Vasundhara Raje invited foreign investors to help her develop Rajasthan as a commercial logistics hub providing excellent opportunities for growth and employment.
As a part of its vision for logistics sector, Rajasthan government had short-listed multiple locations for setting up integrated transport, warehousing and logistics hubs. Based on the availability of land and infrastructure facilities, the government of Rajasthan had developed logistic facilities at Kota, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bhilwara in past. Now, they’re eyeing Neemrana—a fast-developing industrial center in North-west India.
What is Logistics & Why It’s Important for Growth?
Logistics is a strategized chain that physically connects businesses and goods to suppliers, distributors and customers. Being an expensive and emission-heavy process it involves movement of goods from one place to another via roads, rails, barges, air and water. The output heavily influences customer satisfaction and annual turnover of companies. Companies often overlook the importance of logistics, which is why it’s important for the government to empower this sector in order to attract global investors.
How will Rajasthan Benefit from Logistics & Transportation?
Rajasthan shares close proximity with fast-developing northern and western states like Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana etc. Recently, the state has invested Rs 40,000 crores in construction of national highways, link roads and Ring road. Today, it enjoys one of the longest national highways (29,500 km). Additionally the state is braced up for construction of a smooth road network covering 2.2 lakh kilometers area under Centre’s ambitious ‘Bharatmala program for road construction’. The state is well-connected by rails, buses, intra/inter-air services.
Not only this, the government is swiftly working on a 180-km-long rapid railway network connecting Delhi to Alwar. Side-by-side they’re developing Neemrana, Bhiwadi and Kurushkhera as industrial parks. All these factors contribute to Rajasthan’s spectacular logistics potential. Today, Rajasthan includes 6 economic corridors (40% freight corridors in India) that pass through the state. Considering these factors, it’s safe to say that Rajasthan will benefit from logistics and multi-modal integrated transport system.
The main objective of India Integrated Transport & Logistics Summit 2017 was to create a common global platform for air, road, water and railway departments where they can interact with investors and discuss prospects of growth in logistics sector. Through this conference, India is expecting to draw investments worth Rs 2 lakh crores from developed nations like Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi etc.
Knowing that Rajasthan is a fast-developing state with accessible resources, it’ll certainly attract foreign investments. With an adept workforce, abundant resources and a defined vision for development, the state is all prepared to be India’s biggest logistic hub. #IndiaOntheGo
