LEADS 2024 Report: Shaping India’s Logistics Landscape for Sustainable Growth
The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, unveiled the sixth edition of the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024 report. The report is an essential benchmark for evaluating state-wise logistics performance and emphasises the role of strategic planning, sustainable practices, and public-private partnerships in fostering a world-class logistics ecosystem in India.
The LEADS 2024 report evaluates states and union territories based on four critical pillars:
- Logistics Infrastructure
- Logistics Services
- Operating and Regulatory Environment
- Sustainable Logistics (a new addition)
Goyal underscored the need for state governments and private sector stakeholders to develop comprehensive regional and city-level logistics plans to attract investments and improve last-mile connectivity. He advocated for the adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, to boost efficiency in logistics operations.
Additionally, the importance of workforce inclusivity and skill development were highlighted, with the states being urged to encourage a greater participation of women in the logistics sector.
Performance Categories of LEADS 2024
States and Union Territories were categorised into Achievers, Fast Movers, and Aspirers:
- Coastal Group: Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu emerged as Achievers, with Andhra Pradesh and Goa recognised as Fast Movers.
- Landlocked Group: Haryana, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand led as Achievers, while Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh were Fast Movers.
- North-Eastern Group: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh stood out as Achievers.
- Union Territories: Chandigarh and Delhi were recognised as Achievers.
Green Logistics and Sustainability
Goyal emphasised the need for green logistics initiatives to drive sustainable growth. With the logistics sector contributing significantly to carbon emissions, adopting environmentally friendly practices in the logistics parks as well as across the logistics supply chain is critical. The introduction of the Sustainable Logistics pillar in LEADS 2024 reflects this commitment.
The newly released Logistics Cost Framework aims to address any inefficiencies in national logistics costs by introducing a hybrid methodology to estimate costs accurately and be better informed while trying to lower it.
According to the LEADS report, India’s progress in building an efficient network of logistics hubs is evident from the construction of over 769,284 km of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Moreover, the establishment of multi-modal logistics hubs, as recommended by Goyal, will further reduce costs and enhance connectivity.
Future Moves…
The PM Gati Shakti Course by Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya was introduced along with the report, aiming to train professionals in efficient infrastructure planning. Goyal also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developing multi-modal hubs, which will help reduce costs and improve transparency.
As India strives toward becoming a $32 trillion economy by 2047, reports like LEADS 2024 provide actionable insights to foster competitive federalism and innovation, paving the way for a more efficient and globally competitive logistics sector.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2090056
