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The Centre is working on a freight interchange system around the National Capital Region (NCR) to prevent long-haul diesel trucks from entering Delhi during the winter pollution season. Under the proposed model, cargo would be transferred to electric trucks at logistics hubs on the city’s outskirts before being transported to warehouses and distribution centres within the capital.
The initiative aims to reduce freight-related emissions without disrupting the movement of essential and commercial goods when air-quality restrictions are imposed. It also aligns with India’s wider efforts to promote electric mobility and cleaner urban logistics.
Around five multimodal logistics hubs are proposed at strategic NCR locations, including Sonipat, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Gurugram. These facilities would serve as interchange points for cargo arriving on long-distance routes.
Medium and heavy diesel trucks would halt at the designated hubs to unload consignments or exchange trailers. Electric trucks would then undertake the final leg of the journey into Delhi, transporting goods to warehouses, distribution centres and customers.
The hubs are expected to form part of the National Highways for EV initiative, being developed through a public-private partnership model to strengthen electric vehicle and charging infrastructure across major transport corridors.
The proposed system seeks to keep diesel-powered freight vehicles outside Delhi’s borders while allowing electric and other low-emission vehicles to manage urban deliveries. Although initially linked to the winter pollution season, the interchange model could eventually support a more permanent transition towards cleaner city logistics.
The initiative could also help reduce the operational disruptions caused by diesel-truck restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). When Stage IV measures are enforced, the entry of medium and heavy diesel goods vehicles is restricted, except for trucks carrying essential commodities or covered by specific exemptions.
These restrictions frequently result in vehicles queuing at Delhi’s borders, delaying deliveries and affecting supply-chain schedules. Freight interchange hubs could provide an alternative by enabling cargo to continue moving even when diesel trucks are prevented from entering the city.
Heavy trucks account for a relatively small proportion of vehicles operating on Delhi’s roads but are estimated to contribute around 23 percent of transport-related PM2.5 emissions. Their impact is particularly significant at night, when a large share of freight movement takes place.
The interchange proposal is intended to complement Delhi’s Winter Pollution Action Plan, which remains in effect from November 1 to February 28 unless stricter GRAP measures are introduced.
The seasonal plan includes checks on Pollution Under Control certificates, restrictions on certain non-BS VI vehicles, staggered office timings, work-from-home advisories, construction controls and measures against open burning.
If implemented, the EV-based freight interchange system could allow cargo movement to continue during severe pollution episodes while reducing the presence of diesel trucks within Delhi. It would also mark a significant step towards integrating clean mobility with urban freight planning.
New Delhi: NITI Aayog-led e-FAST India has launched the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport (PACT) to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission trucks and strengthen the commercial case for electric freight in India. Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog, launched the platform at the 5th e-FAST India Summit 2026. PACT is designed to aggregate freight demand from shippers, logistics service providers (LSPs) and other stakeholders and translate that demand into electric-truck deployment opportunities across identified freight corridors. The initiative brings together key participants across the electric freight ecosystem, including shippers, LSPs, vehicle manufacturers, financiers, charge point operators and technology providers. By creating greater visibility around freight demand, PACT aims to help stakeholders plan charging infrastructure, improve access to financing and support larger-scale deployment of electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (e-MHDVs). The platform comes as India's electric freight market moves beyond small-scale pilots. E-freight vehicle deployments increased more than fourfold, from 201 vehicles in FY2024-25 to 826 in FY2025-26, while more than 3,000 electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks are now operating across the country. NITI Aayog said sustaining this growth will require greater coordination across the ecosystem, particularly in aggregating freight demand, developing charging infrastructure, improving financing access and providing greater certainty to fleet operators and investors. Speaking at the summit, Gauba said the next phase of India's electric freight transition would depend on collaboration across the ecosystem. He highlighted innovative financing models, corridor-based charging infrastructure and market-driven partnerships as important levers for accelerating the commercial adoption of electric trucks. Alongside PACT, the summit also introduced the ZET Marketplace, an interactive business platform intended to connect e-truck manufacturers, LSPs, charge point operators, financiers and technology companies. The marketplace will allow participating companies to showcase products, identify commercial opportunities and develop partnerships for zero-emission freight projects. Discussions at the summit focused on financing and de-risking mechanisms, charging infrastructure, policy priorities and lessons from early electric-freight deployments. A central theme was the need to move beyond individual demonstration projects towards coordinated, commercially viable deployments at scale. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Construction of the long-delayed Chennai Port–Maduravoyal elevated corridor has entered an accelerated phase, with authorities targeting completion by November 2027 to improve cargo evacuation from Chennai Port and ease freight congestion across the city. The 20.5-km four-lane elevated expressway, being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is designed primarily to facilitate seamless movement of container traffic between Chennai Port and the city’s outer road network. The project is expected to significantly reduce transit delays for trucks transporting export-import cargo. The expressway project, originally conceived more than a decade ago, has faced repeated interruptions due to legal disputes, environmental concerns and changes in design alignment. Construction activity had remained stalled for years before being revived with revised plans and fresh clearances. Once operational, the dedicated freight corridor is expected to reduce heavy vehicle movement on congested arterial roads within Chennai, particularly in areas surrounding the port. Industry stakeholders believe the infrastructure will improve turnaround time for container trucks and strengthen the efficiency of cargo movement linked to one of India’s busiest ports. The elevated corridor will connect Chennai Port directly to Maduravoyal on National Highway 48, creating faster access to industrial clusters and hinterland markets in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. Logistics operators have long argued that the absence of a dedicated evacuation corridor has contributed to delays, higher fuel consumption and operational inefficiencies for cargo transporters serving the port. According to project authorities, the revised execution strategy includes parallel construction packages and tighter monitoring mechanisms aimed at avoiding further delays. Several supporting activities, including drainage works and relocation of utilities, are also being carried out alongside the main structural construction. The project is considered strategically important for Chennai Port’s long-term cargo handling competitiveness, particularly as container volumes continue to grow and pressure on urban transport infrastructure increases. Analysts say the dedicated elevated link could help improve supply chain reliability for exporters and importers dependent on the port. The Chennai Port–Maduravoyal corridor is among the major port connectivity infrastructure projects being pursued to strengthen multimodal logistics efficiency and reduce urban freight congestion in key maritime gateways across India. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Tata Motors has further deepened its digital logistics capabilities by acquiring an additional stake in Freight Commerce Solutions (Freight Tiger) for ₹95.66 crore, marking a strategic move to strengthen its end-to-end supply chain technology ecosystem in India’s commercial vehicle sector. The acquisition involves the purchase of approximately an 18% equity stake from existing investors, which will take Tata Motors’ total holding in Freight Tiger to around 63.6% on a fully diluted basis. With this transaction, Freight Tiger will become a subsidiary of Tata Motors, further integrating its operations with the automaker’s connected vehicle and logistics platforms. Freight Tiger, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mumbai, operates a SaaS-enabled logistics marketplace and Transportation Management System (TMS). The platform connects shippers, fleet owners, and logistics service providers through a digital ecosystem designed to improve freight visibility, efficiency, and cost optimisation across India’s fragmented logistics sector. According to regulatory disclosures, the transaction was completed as a cash deal on May 15, 2026, and involved shares acquired from early investors, including venture capital and private equity stakeholders. The deal did not require additional regulatory approvals, streamlining the acquisition process. Tata Motors stated that the integration of Freight Tiger with its connected vehicle platform, Fleet Edge, will enable the creation of a comprehensive digital ecosystem covering both vehicle operations and freight movement. This combined system aims to improve real-time tracking, fleet utilisation, trip planning, and logistics coordination across the value chain. The company has been steadily increasing its exposure to logistics technology in recent years. Earlier investments in Freight Tiger signalled Tata Motors’ intent to move beyond manufacturing into mobility solutions and data-driven logistics services. This latest acquisition strengthens that strategy, positioning the company to play a larger role in India’s rapidly digitising supply chain landscape. Freight Tiger has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, reporting ₹26.7 crore in FY25, compared to ₹17.8 crore in FY24. Industry observers expect the integration to accelerate platform adoption as Tata Motors leverages its extensive commercial vehicle network. The acquisition also aligns with broader industry trends, where automakers are increasingly investing in software-led logistics solutions to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs in freight movement. As India’s logistics sector continues to modernise, Tata Motors’ expanded stake in Freight Tiger signals a clear push toward building a unified, technology-driven freight ecosystem. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
