New Delhi, June 27, 2025: Union Minister of Road and Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari delivered a keynote address on the inaugural day of ET Edge Supply Chain Management Fest 2025 (ET Edge SCM Fest 2025) held on 26th June, at Taj Palace, New Delhi under the theme 'Resilient Networks, Limitless Growth.’ The Minister outlined India’s strategic progress in reducing logistics cost, embracing alternative fuels, and integrating multimodal infrastructure development.

Addressing industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, the Minister emphasised that logistics cost reduction is crucial for India’s economy growth. ‘Until recently, logistics costs were about 16% of GDP. But I’m proud to share that, according to a joint IIM-IIT survey, we’ve brought this down by 10%. That’s a major milestone and we’re aiming for single digits soon,” Gadkari said.

Crediting this shift to massive investments in expressways, economic corridors, and digital infrastructure, including FASTag and now fully digital tolling systems. These advancements are cutting travel time, reducing fuel consumption, and streamlining freight movement. Highlighting India’s green transition, the Minister pointed to biofuels, ethanol, electric trucks, and CNG two-wheelers as key initiatives. He also announced a ₹600 crore pilot project to build hydrogen fueling infrastructure across 10 highways.

“Fossil fuels strain both our economy and our environment. The future lies in green alternatives. Within the next 7 years, I believe India will become a net energy exporter,” he added.

Gadkari spotlighted India’s booming automobile sector, now valued at ₹22 lakh crore and ranked 3rd globally. He underlined how the EV ecosystem can become a major export engine, driving the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission and contributing to India’s $5 trillion economy vision.

On the logistics front, he spoke about transformative initiatives under the PM Gati Shakti Yojana, including multi-modal hubs in Katra, Assam, and Maharashtra, and landmark projects like Wadhwan Port, which promises significant cost savings via deeper draft vessels. “We’re witnessing a 45% reduction in port turnaround times and a 25% drop in transport costs, a boon for MSMEs and exporters alike,” he noted.

He also highlighted last-mile connectivity, container handling improvements, minor port development, and the game-changing Atal Setu project connecting to JNPT.

With travel time between Delhi and cities like Dehradun, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Katra set to reduce by year-end, Gadkari reiterated that infrastructure is not just about roads, it’s a catalyst for economic progress.

The momentum at the ET Edge Supply Chain Management Fest 2025 continued with a series of impactful addresses from industry leaders and government dignitaries who underscored the need for collaboration, innovation, and integrated infrastructure to shape India’s logistics future.

Hemant Sikka, Managing Director & CEO of Mahindra Logistics, set the collaborative tone with his opening address: “The success of global sales demands an ecosystem that is connected, agile, and built for scale. It’s not about how one company does it, but how the entire ecosystem comes together. Playing that orchestra in sync is what will drive India’s logistics industry forward.” Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of Steel Authority of India Ltd., delivered a compelling global keynote, highlighting the evolving role of supply chain professionals: “You’ll be moving goods, but at every step, you must keep an eye on the supply chain and be ready to shake it or shift it altogether. We must focus not just on cost, but also on reliability and agility.” The fest also spotlighted infrastructure innovation, as Shashi Kiran Shetty, Founder & Chairman of Allcargo Group, proposed a transformative model for logistics hubs:“Multi-Modal Logistics Parks can’t run on outdated lease models. We need a revenue-sharing partnership between the government and private players similar to how hotel chains operate to build sustainable infrastructure.” Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs, outlined India’s bold vision for cross-border infrastructure: “With over 15,000 km of land borders and cross-border trade surging from ₹5,000 crore to ₹78,000 crore last year, we are aiming to scale up to 89 Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) by 2047 to meet future trade targets.” These compelling insights reflect the summit's core theme, "Resilient Networks, Limitless Growth", and reaffirm the role of collaborative leadership, policy reform, and digital-first infrastructure in driving India’s logistics transformation.

Day 1 of the ET Edge SCM Fest 2025 wrapped up on a high note with powerful keynotes, strategic discussions, and a special address by Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, highlighting “Supply chain management is the most unglamorous yet most critical part of any economy. It’s both a science and an art. India’s journey from Fragile Five to Top Five proves what efficient supply chains can achieve.” The event resumes on 27th June with another day of high-impact sessions focused on innovation, infrastructure, and the future of supply chain excellence.

About ET Edge: ET Edge an Initiative of The Times Group is India's largest conference and thought leadership company. Since its inception in 2015, ET Edge has been at the forefront of creating unique thought leadership initiatives with the objective to empower multiple sectors, industries, and segments by dispersing critical business knowledge through strategically developed specialized conferences and summits.

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