India can save fuel worth ₹3.11 trn

A report titled “Fast Tracking Freight in India: A Roadmap for Clean and Cost-Effective Goods Transport” from Niti Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has found that India can save ₹3.11 trillion worth of fuel till 2050 if it deploys clean and cost-effective mode of goods transportation. It added that the country can bring down its cost of logistics by 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and reduce 10 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions till 2030 through these measures. Currently, logistics accounts for about 13% of the total costs for Indian companies, making exports uncompetitive vis-a-vis China.

“India handles 4.6 billion tonnes of goods each year, amounting to a total annual cost of ₹9.5 lakh crore (trillion),” the study noted. “Freight transportation is a critical backbone of India’s growing economy, and now more than ever, it is important to make this transport system more cost-effective, efficient, and cleaner. Efficient freight transport will also play an essential role in realizing the benefits of existing government initiatives such as Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Digital India,” commented Sudhendu J. Sinha, Adviser, Transport and Electric Mobility, Niti Aayog. The study added that India can reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 35% and 28%, respectively, until 2050.