Loading...
Nagpur is set for a major expansion in logistics infrastructure, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stating that the city requires at least 20 additional mega logistics parks to meet rising industrial and warehousing demand.
The remarks were made during the inauguration of the Godam Logistics Park on Amravati Road, one of the largest integrated logistics facilities in central India. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also attended the event and described Nagpur as a rapidly emerging logistics hub due to its strategic location and growing transport connectivity.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis mentions, "Today, along with Nitin Gadkari, I inaugurated the Warehouse Logistics Park in Nagpur. A state-of-the-art facility has been developed, spread across more than 100 acres. This project will provide a major boost to the logistics and manufacturing sectors. The logistics policy we introduced in the past has helped Nagpur emerge as a logistics hub of the country. With a large number of logistics parks being developed, logistics costs will reduce significantly. If we want to compete globally and become a part of the global supply chain, reducing logistics costs is essential."
Industry experts have increasingly viewed Nagpur as a natural distribution centre because of its location at the geographical centre of India. The city connects major freight corridors linking Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, giving companies shorter transit times to key consumption markets.
Gadkari highlighted that India’s logistics costs remain higher than global benchmarks, estimating them at nearly 16% of GDP compared with around 8% in China and 12% in several European economies. However, he claimed infrastructure upgrades, including highway expansion and improved fuel efficiency, are gradually reducing freight costs.
The push for logistics infrastructure in Nagpur comes amid a broader industrial buildout across Vidarbha. Over the past year, multiple warehousing and industrial park projects have been announced in the region, including smart logistics parks, multimodal freight hubs and AI-enabled manufacturing clusters.
The Maharashtra government is also banking on future port connectivity to strengthen the region’s supply chain ecosystem. Fadnavis said the upcoming Vadhvan Port project on the Konkan coast is expected to significantly improve export access for industries in central India once operational later this decade.
Nagpur’s logistics expansion is expected to support sectors such as manufacturing, e-commerce, cold chain distribution and air cargo, while also generating employment in warehousing, transport and industrial services. However, analysts note that sustained growth will depend on faster multimodal connectivity, improved urban infrastructure and long-term industrial demand.
Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
India and Russia are preparing to operationalise a long-awaited reciprocal logistics agreement that will significantly deepen defence cooperation by allowing their armed forces to access each other's military infrastructure for logistical support during joint activities, humanitarian missions and other mutually agreed operations. The agreement, known as the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS), establishes a framework for the movement of military personnel, naval vessels and aircraft between the two countries. It also enables reciprocal access to ports, airbases and other military facilities for services such as refuelling, maintenance, repairs, replenishment and transportation, reducing operational delays during deployments. While the pact does not amount to the creation of permanent military bases or a defence alliance, it is expected to improve interoperability between the Indian and Russian armed forces and simplify logistical arrangements during military exercises, training programmes and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions. The agreement may also be extended to other situations through mutual consent. For India, the agreement strengthens access to Russian military infrastructure in the Arctic, a region that has gained strategic importance due to melting sea ice, emerging shipping routes and growing competition over natural resources. Access to Russian facilities could support India's expanding scientific, commercial and strategic interests in the region while complementing its Arctic policy. Russia, meanwhile, stands to benefit from improved logistical access to Indian ports and facilities in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing its operational flexibility in the Indo-Pacific at a time when geopolitical competition in the region continues to intensify. The logistics pact places Russia alongside a growing list of countries with which India has signed similar defence support agreements. Over the past decade, New Delhi has concluded logistics-sharing arrangements with the United States, France, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea as part of its broader effort to improve the mobility and endurance of its armed forces during overseas deployments. Unlike traditional defence treaties, logistics agreements do not commit either country to military intervention during conflicts. Instead, they provide a legal and administrative framework for reciprocal logistical assistance, enabling forces to operate more efficiently while reducing dependence on dedicated supply chains. The agreement also reflects the enduring defence partnership between India and Russia, which continues despite New Delhi's expanding strategic engagement with Western nations. Russia remains one of India's largest defence suppliers, with cooperation extending beyond arms purchases to joint production, technology transfer and regular military exercises. Analysts say the logistics framework is likely to strengthen operational coordination between the two countries while supporting India's policy of maintaining diversified strategic partnerships across multiple regions. As global maritime routes evolve and strategic competition intensifies in both the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific, the agreement is expected to provide greater flexibility for military operations without altering the broader balance of India's foreign policy. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
India Post has launched a drone-based mail and parcel delivery service in Himachal Pradesh, marking a significant step in the use of unmanned aerial systems to improve postal connectivity in remote and mountainous regions. The service became operational on the Mandi Head Post Office, Rehardhar Branch Post Office route on June 12. The 12-km stretch, which typically takes more than two hours to cover by conventional transport due to challenging terrain, can now be completed in about seven minutes using drones. The initiative is the first of a broader rollout planned by the Department of Posts, which has identified nearly 150 routes across Himachal Pradesh and Assam for drone-based mail transmission over the next few months. According to the Ministry of Communications, the project is aimed at improving last-mile connectivity in difficult geographies where road access can be slow and weather-dependent. The deployment is expected to support faster movement of mail and parcels while improving service reliability in remote communities. The drone network will also provide real-time tracking capabilities and help address logistical challenges associated with transporting mail through hilly terrain. The Mandi–Rehardhar corridor has been selected as the first operational route under the programme. The launch reflects a growing trend of integrating drone technology into logistics and public service delivery, particularly in regions where traditional transportation networks face operational constraints. If successful, the expansion could provide a scalable model for strengthening postal services in geographically challenging parts of the country. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
DHL Supply Chain today announced a major expansion of its data centre logistics capabilities across Asia Pacific, reinforcing its role as a trusted logistics partner for hyperscalers and data centre operators as AI-driven infrastructure investment accelerates and large-scale projects move from planning into execution. The expansion includes more than 30,000 square meters of dedicated warehouse space already operational across the region, alongside an additional 130,000 square meters of committed expansion and build-to-suit facilities in Malaysia and Thailand that are expected to become operational over the next two years. Once complete, DHL will support more than 160,000 square meters of specialized data centre logistics infrastructure across strategic Asia Pacific markets. The investment comes as Asia Pacific emerges as one of the world's fastest-growing data centre regions, fueled by unprecedented demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital connectivity. As operators race to bring new capacity online, they face mounting challenges, including compressed deployment timelines, increasingly complex international supply chains, and the secure handling of high-value technology assets in active construction environments. DHL's latest expansion builds on the company's global data centre logistics strategy, following its March 2026 commitment to add 10 dedicated data centre warehouses across North America to support growing hyperscaler demand. With the global data centre logistics market projected to grow from USD 23 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 35 billion by 2030, organizations are seeking logistics partners capable of delivering the speed, security, precision, and specialized expertise required throughout the entire data centre lifecycle. "Asia Pacific is rapidly becoming the world's next major data centre hub, with an estimated USD 800 billion (approximately EUR 730 billion) expected to be invested in data centre infrastructure across the region by 2030," said Javier Bilbao, CEO, Asia Pacific, DHL Supply Chain. At the core of the expansion is a combination of high-security, purpose-built warehousing and specialized service logistics solutions designed to support complex, multi-phase deployment programs. DHL is also investing significantly in workforce development, equipping teams with advanced white glove handling expertise and technical capabilities that allow critical preparation and integration activities to be completed in controlled logistics environments rather than on active construction sites. These white glove services ensure that servers, networking equipment, and mission-critical infrastructure are transported and installed under tightly controlled conditions, minimizing the risk of damage, delays, and operational disruption. Services span the entire deployment journey, including site surveys, route assessments, floor protection, cage management, equipment verification, rack installation, component validation, post-installation cleaning, and project completion reporting. To further address the complexities of data centre deployments, DHL is expanding its specialized technical services portfolio. Dedicated teams provide server rack frame assembly, component mounting, intra-rack cabling, functional testing, and secure packaging solutions that protect sensitive equipment throughout transit and installation. By shifting these activities to purpose-built logistics hubs, customers can reduce on-site congestion, lower installation risks, and maintain critical construction schedules even as deployment scale and infrastructure density continue to increase. The Asia Pacific expansion forms part of DHL Group's broader global strategy to strengthen its data centre logistics capabilities in response to growing digital infrastructure demand worldwide. "Data centre logistics represents a significant strategic growth opportunity for DHL as global investment in AI and digital infrastructure continues to accelerate," said Amanda Rasmussen, Chief Commercial Officer, DHL Global Forwarding and Head of the Data Centre Logistics Taskforce at DHL Group. Together, these investments underscore DHL's commitment to supporting the next generation of digital infrastructure. By expanding its specialised capabilities across key global markets, the company is strengthening its ability to deliver seamless, end-to-end logistics solutions that enable customers to build, scale, and operate data centres with greater speed, reliability, and confidence. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
