The inputs given by Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) Report 2021 can lead the way to bring down logistics cost by 5% over the next 5 years, says Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal.

Goyal said that India is committed to build modern infrastructure for the 21st century, at a pace never seen before and PM GatiShakti Master Plan would revolutionise the next generation of multimodal infrastructure development in the country.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's consistent focus on infrastructure, the Minister said that the initiatives taken by him in Gujarat for 13 years had laid the foundation for Gujarat to consistently stay at the top of the chart in LEADS report

He said that the speed of highway construction has increased three fold from around 12 Km/day in 2013-14 to 37 Km/day in 2020-21 and that there was a four fold increase in Railways capex from Rs. 54,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 2.15 lakh crore in 2021-22.

Goyal emphasized that efficient logistics was pivotal to bring ease and empowerment to businesses as well as citizens. He observed that logistics contributed immensely in our fight against COVID-19 by taking essential supplies including liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) throughout the country during the 2nd wave.

He named infrastructure, quality services and conducive regulatory framework as the three pillars of resilient logistics. He added that with competitive and cooperative federalism, LEADS is creating an ecosystem for excellence by bringing in a healthy competitive spirit where everyone is persuaded to improve.

"Rather than just absolute improvement in one state, improvement of logistics across all states will be a force multiplier for the entire logistics ecosystem," said Goyal.

The Minister said that states have Indispensable role in improving the logistics ecosystem of India. He outlined a number of suggestions for states including framing of State Logistics Policy & Logistics Master Plan, use of a single-window clearance system for logistics establishment of grievance redressal mechanism and enabling skilling in logistics through state skilling infrastructure.