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India will require around 215 multimodal logistics parks (MMLPs) by 2047 to accommodate rising freight volumes and support the shift in cargo movement from road to rail, according to a new industry report. The study highlights the critical role of next-generation logistics infrastructure in enabling the country’s long-term economic growth and logistics efficiency goals.
The report estimates that India’s freight demand will increase substantially over the next two decades, driven by industrial expansion, growing domestic consumption, infrastructure development, and rising international trade. To manage this surge efficiently, the country will need a robust network of MMLPs that can integrate multiple transport modes, including rail, road, inland waterways, and ports.
A key recommendation of the report is the development of 215 strategically located MMLPs across the country to facilitate seamless cargo movement and reduce logistics costs. These facilities are expected to serve as integrated hubs offering warehousing, cargo consolidation, value-added services, and efficient multimodal connectivity.
The proposed logistics parks are also central to India’s ambition of increasing rail’s share in freight transportation. Currently, road transport dominates cargo movement, contributing to higher logistics costs and environmental impacts. Expanding multimodal infrastructure would help shift a larger portion of freight to rail, improving fuel efficiency, reducing congestion on highways, and lowering carbon emissions.
Industry experts believe that MMLPs will play a crucial role in supporting the government’s broader logistics modernisation agenda, including initiatives such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy. By improving connectivity between production centres, consumption hubs, ports, and industrial corridors, these facilities can significantly enhance supply chain resilience and operational efficiency.
The report also underlines the importance of coordinated planning between central and state governments, infrastructure agencies, and private sector stakeholders. Timely land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and investment support will be essential to accelerate the development of these logistics hubs.
As India targets becoming a developed economy by 2047, strengthening freight infrastructure will be a strategic priority. The creation of a nationwide network of multimodal logistics parks is expected not only to meet future freight demand but also to improve logistics competitiveness, reduce transportation costs, and support sustainable economic growth.
With freight volumes projected to rise sharply over the coming decades, investment in multimodal logistics infrastructure is increasingly being viewed as a cornerstone of India’s supply chain transformation journey.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has launched the BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana) Portal, a digital platform designed to accelerate the implementation of the government’s ambitious ₹33,660 crore industrial parks programme, strengthening India’s logistics infrastructure. The initiative seeks to develop 100 world-class industrial parks across the country over the next six years, creating investment-ready manufacturing hubs and boosting industrial competitiveness. The BHAVYA Portal will serve as a centralised digital interface for states, Union Territories and other stakeholders to submit proposals, track project progress and facilitate approvals under the scheme. The platform is expected to improve transparency, streamline coordination and ensure faster execution of industrial infrastructure projects. Approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year, the BHAVYA scheme aims to create integrated industrial ecosystems featuring plug-and-play infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, digital governance systems and worker-support facilities. The parks are envisioned as comprehensive manufacturing and investment destinations that can support both domestic and global businesses looking to expand operations in India. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the parks will provide infrastructure including assured water and power supply, road and rail connectivity, land titles, digital single-window clearances and, where feasible, air connectivity. The government is also open to developing dedicated areas for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), worker housing and social infrastructure within the parks. The operational guidelines for BHAVYA were released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in May 2026, and the launch of the portal marks the next critical step in translating policy into implementation. The portal will serve as the single digital interface for end-to-end implementation of the Scheme, facilitating the submission of Detailed Project Report (DPR) proposals, project appraisal and evaluation, and real-time monitoring of implementation progress. It will support the challenge-based competitive selection framework under BHAVYA by providing a structured and transparent mechanism for assessing proposals from States, Union Territories, and implementing agencies, while enabling efficient coordination among stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. The launch event was chaired by Shri Piyush Goyal, and attended by Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, and CEO & MD, NICDC, Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, along with representatives from State and Union Territory Governments, industry associations, Export Promotion Councils, banks and financial institutions, master developers, and MSMEs. Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, emphasised that robust digital systems are essential for effective programme management and informed decision-making at scale. He noted that the portal, by serving as a single digital interface across all stages of project submission, evaluation, monitoring, and reporting, would significantly strengthen implementation of the Scheme and enable faster operationalisation of industrial parks across the country. CEO & MD, NICDC, Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, highlighted that the platform had been designed to support the complete lifecycle of projects under BHAVYA. He stated that it would facilitate efficient coordination among stakeholders, provide real-time visibility into project progress, and strengthen transparency and accountability in implementation. The launch was followed by an interaction between Shri Piyush Goyal and industry stakeholders, providing an opportunity to discuss India's next phase of industrial infrastructure development, investment facilitation, ease of doing business, logistics efficiency, and the role of integrated industrial parks in deepening domestic manufacturing capabilities and strengthening India's integration with global value chains. Additionally, the government has also adopted a competitive, challenge-based selection process for park development. In the first phase, states and Union Territories have been invited to submit proposals for up to 50 industrial parks, with the Centre providing financial assistance under defined eligibility criteria. The initiative encourages collaboration between state governments and private sector participants to accelerate infrastructure creation and attract large-scale investments. As India intensifies efforts to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and improve ease of doing business, the launch of the BHAVYA Portal marks a critical step in translating policy intent into on-ground industrial infrastructure. For logistics providers, manufacturers and investors alike, the programme signals the emergence of a new generation of industrial hubs designed to support India’s next phase of economic growth. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
The warehousing and logistics sector is expected to see annual absorption surpassing 45 million sq ft by the end of 2026, reflecting strong demand, according to a Vestian survey. After a phase of slowdown in 2025, India’s warehousing and logistics sector has begun 2026 on a stronger note. This is due to improved confidence among renters, steady domestic demand, and ongoing upgrades to infrastructure. Following a year of careful growth strategies and optimizing networks, renters are gradually moving back to expansion, seeking selective capacity increases in major logistics corridors, especially for high-demand properties. In the first quarter of 2026, the top seven cities in India recorded an absorption of 11.4 million sq ft. This marks an 8 percent increase from the previous quarter and the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. Although absorption fell by 14 percent compared to last year, leasing activity remained strong, particularly from third-party logistics, engineering and manufacturing, and consumer goods sectors. Mumbai and Pune accounted for 81% of the total leasing activity, highlighting the ongoing strength of established industrial and logistics hubs in western India. The continued recovery quarter after quarter suggests that the slowdown in 2025 was a strategic adjustment rather than a sign of weakened demand. Pune was the second-largest contributor with 4.46 million sq ft of absorption. This figure rose by 162 percent from the last quarter and by 42 percent year-on-year, signaling a strong rebound after lower activity in previous quarters. Hyderabad saw an absorption of 0.69 million sq ft in Q1 2026, down 17 percent from the last quarter but up 50 percent from the same period last year. The NCR experienced an absorption of 0.73 million sq ft, which dropped sharply by 61 percent sequentially and 57 percent year-on-year, indicating limited leasing activity. Chennai recorded 0.59 million sq ft of absorption, a decrease of 50 percent from the previous quarter and 34 percent year-on-year, following a strong performance in earlier quarters. Bengaluru, despite a significant 566 percent increase from the last quarter, faced an 87 percent decline year-on-year, with absorption reaching 0.17 million sq ft in Q1 2026. Kolkata experienced a steep drop in leasing activity, with absorption falling to just 0.01 million sq ft. Looking ahead, an increasing focus on supply chain resilience, a rising demand for modern Grade-A facilities, and continued growth in emerging Tier-I and Tier-II logistics hubs are expected to drive growth in 2026. Renters are likely to prioritize network efficiency, quicker delivery times, and technology-driven warehousing solutions, creating fresh demand in key corridors. The warehousing and logistics sector is projected to see annual absorption exceed 45 million sq ft by the end of 2026, indicating ongoing demand in the sector, according to the Vestian report. For more such news and updates, follow CARGOCONNECT.
Welpsun One, a well-known warehousing real estate platform, announced that it signed a LoI with Balmer Lawrie and Co to sublease warehousing space in the financial capital of India, Mumbai. As per the Letter of Intent, Welpsun One will sublease around 65000 sq ft of Grade A+ warehousing space at WTC Nhava Sheva within the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) special economic zone to the company for a period of five years. With this move, Balmer Lawrie and Co became the first central public sector undertaking (PSU) to collaborate with Welspun One across its diversified portfolio. The partnership will also strengthen the company's rapid expansion into special economic zone (SEZ) warehousing and port-linked logistics operations, riding on its operating strengths in CFS (container freight station) operations, freight forwarding, and international trade facilitation. It is learnt that the facility is likely to be operational by the start of 2027. Currently, Balmer Lawrie already operates a container freight station at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) located in Navi Mumbai. The WTC Nhava Sheva facility, widely known to provide customs duty deferment and a swift clearance, will widen that footprint further into SEZ warehousing and value-added logistics services. Neeraj Balani, Chief Customer Officer, Welspun One, stated, “WTC Nhava Sheva has been designed for partners who require high-quality infrastructure, regulatory efficiency and direct proximity to India's most crucial port-led trade gateway, and we truly believe this will set the tone for many more institutional engagements.” WTC Nhava Sheva is Welspun One’s main project inside the JNPA SEZ and spans an area of 55 acres and offers about 4.45 million square feet of development space, with an investment of Rs 2,700 crore. Welspun One believes that the project would bring together warehousing, industrial, and EXIM-linked operations all in one place, under one roof, creating an integrated hub for businesses. For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
