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Multimodal logistics is becoming a bigger priority in India because fragmented transport networks and heavy dependence on road freight continue to raise logistics costs and stretch delivery timelines. The article argues that tighter integration across road, rail, ports, and inland waterways can reduce transit time, improve freight movement, and make supply chains more reliable for both domestic distribution and exports.
The practical shift is this: India is no longer treating logistics efficiency as only an infrastructure issue. It is increasingly about network coordination. Rail and waterways can lower long-distance costs and improve fuel efficiency, while road transport still handles first- and last-mile flexibility. The real gains come when those modes work as one connected system instead of separate legs.
The article also points to a digital layer behind this transition. Platforms such as ULIP, the Logistics Data Bank, and Track Your Transport are being positioned as enablers of multimodal efficiency by improving real-time visibility, interoperable coordination, container tracking, and trip-level monitoring.
Why it matters:
For India, supply chain competitiveness will depend not only on building more infrastructure, but on making freight movement more synchronized, visible, and cost-efficient across every transport mode.
