Logistics sector gets industry status

Jaipur: State govt has accorded industry status to the logistics sector to create an investor-friendly regulatory environment, facilitate seamless operations, and enhance ease of doing business.
The new policy, approved by the state cabinet Tuesday, focuses on developing logistics infrastructure, multi-modal connectivity, and private investment to strengthen capabilities and enhance connectivity to local and regional markets.
"The policy will drive economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. Given the sector's anchoring role, the govt has decided to extend industry status to the sector," said Ajitabh Sharma, Principal Secretary (Industries).
RIICO will also reserve land in its new industrial areas for the sector. It is likely that the department will also introduce a scheme to regularise the existing warehouses in the state.
Rajasthan provides access to 40% of India's market and key infrastructure linkages between the northern and western parts of India.
It has several high-potential zones which, the govt thinks, can emerge as logistics hubs due to many intersections of national and state highways, railway networks, expressways, and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Sharma said the policy aims at harnessing the potential of nine economic corridors that are surrounded by the production clusters in the state.
"In our vision, we see a future where every shipment is handled with precision, every route optimised for efficiency, and every connection fortified for reliability," said Sharma. The policy aims to leverage cutting-edge technology to streamline processes, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact, while enabling the seamless movement of goods across regions.
The focus infrastructure will include storage facilities (warehouses and cold storage), dry ports, inland container depots, container freight stations, air freight stations, trucker's parks or lay-bys, and logistics parks. To attract private investment for the development and expand the capacity of existing logistics facilities, the policy outlines a range of incentives to stimulate private sector investment through the PPP model.
The sector will be extended incentives under the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme, like exemption of electricity duty, stamp duty, interest subsidy, and land at concessional rates. Through the policy, the state seeks to leverage technology, innovation, and best practices to ramp up the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of logistics networks.