AP, Telangana among top States in logistics sector

LEADS 2023 report

• AP, Telangana, K’ataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, UP, Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, Chandigarh, Delhi named ‘achievers’ in their respective categories
• Fast Movers: Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, West Bengal, MP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
• Aspirers: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, HP, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been recognised as achievers in various categories in the Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023 report released by Union Minister for Commerce Piyush Goyal.

The performance highlights of LEADS recognised in the coastal group Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as achievers, Kerala and Maharashtra as fast movers and Goa, Odisha and West Bengal as aspirers. In the landlocked group, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh are given recognition as achievers, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand as fast movers and Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand as aspirers.

In the North-East Group, the status of achievers has been given to Assam, Sikkim, Tripura. While Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland are recognised as fast movers, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram are given the tag as aspirers.

In the list of UTs, Chandigarh, Delhi got recognition as achievers, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Puducherry fast movers and Daman & Diu/ Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh as aspirers.

While releasing the report in Delhi, Goyal said the logistics sector will be a cornerstone in the endeavour to take India to a 10x growth from $3.5 trillion to $35 trillion by 2047. When contacted, G Sambasiva Rao, vice-president of National Association of Container Freight Stations, told Bizz Buzz that they are feeling proud that AP has achieved achiever’s status as per LEADS 2023.

He said, "We as an industry feel happy for it and at the same time we want 24/7 road connectivity to ports to the industrial parks and SEZs. By this real logistics cost in AP will come down. AP government must use PM Gati Shakti program to connect all industrial parks and SEZs must be connected from the ports. In the long term 24/7 connection will happen. Under PM Gati Shakti not only roads but also other facilities like Railway sidings, internal roads, truck parking facilities will get a facelift, Warehouse and other facilities will also get a major boost, he said.

LEADS was conceived on the lines of Logistics Performance Index of World Bank in 2018 and has evolved over time. While the LPI relies entirely on perception-based surveys, LEADS incorporates both perception as well as objectivity thereby enhancing the robustness and comprehensiveness of this exercise.

The fifth edition of the LEADS annual exercise - LEADS 2023 report, provides insights into improvement of logistics performance at State/UT level. It highlights an enhanced overall stakeholder perception and impact of various reforms, across States and UTs. This report, signalling a positive shift in States’ performance across the key pillars–logistics infrastructure, logistics services and operating and regulatory environment, empowers the State/UT governments by providing region specific insights for informed decision making and comprehensive growth.