Shri Subodh Jain, Vice President, IRT and Member (Engineering), Railway Board, Shri D.P.Pandey, Vice president, IRT and Member (Traffic), Railway Board and Mrs. Suhas Kumar, Secretary, IRT and Advisor (Freight Marketing), Railway Board and Sh A. P. Ramanan , Executive Director, IRT were among those present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Arunendra Kumar said that transportation and logistics are the back-bone of any economy. He said that coming years are expected to show a significant improvement in this sector and there is a need to draw a road-map for sustainable growth of this sector. Shri Arunendra Kumar said that this seminar is also very timely as Government of India is shortly going to finalise the National Transport Policy. Sh. Kumar said that the National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) which is drafting this policy has already put interim report of this policy in the public domain.
Sh Kumar pointed out that the interim report has highlighted the imperative for creating sufficient capacity for the next twenty years in key transport modes to ensure that overall economic growth is not affected. Sh Kumar said that Ministry of Railways is also gearing up to meet future requirements of this vital infrastructure sector of Indian economy. He hoped that the speakers and chairpersons of the various technical sessions will deliberate on the topic which would lead to evolution of solutions and preparation of an implementable Road Map for development in this sector in future.
Speaking on the occasion, Member (Engineering), Railway Board, Sh. Subodh Jain said that it is quite appropriate that this seminar is focusing on the different aspects of the transport and logistics sector. He said that country will need an efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure to meet the demand in terms of both volumes and value addition of its services. Sh Jain said appropriate strategies need to be evolved for addressing the issues faced by this sector.
In his address, Member Traffic Railway Board Sh D P Pandey said that the optimal growth of this sector is essential for the sustained economic growth of the country. Sh Pandey said that the world has started seeing resurgence in Rail Transport demand and a major shift towards intermodal logistical solutions.
There will be a need to amend laws and rules, induct technology and finally change mindsets if we have to take strident steps to meet or structure customer demands. Sh Pandey said that appropriate pricing policy, investment and financing strategy need to be analyzed in detail for this sector. Shri Pandey hoped that seminar would end in drawing up of a future Road map for the policy makers which would be both practical and desirable.
Mrs. Suhas Kumar, Adviser (FM) Railway Board gave the welcome speech. The two day seminar will have four sessions, namely, ‘current State of Transportation and Logistics Sector in India’, ‘Expectations of Consumers of the Transportation and Logistics Sector and Solutions for their Realization’, ‘Vision and Strategy for the future growth of the Transport and Logistics Sector’, ‘Future Roadmap for the Transportation and Logistics Industry’.
The seminar, organised by IRT as a part of its Golden Jubilee year celebrations, intends to focus on the present and the proposed future status of the transport and logistics sector in areas of policy, its implementation and synergy with the national and global economy. Policy would cover investments, regulatory and environmental considerations. The proceedings of the seminar are expected to make recommendations for policy makers and professional and business managers.
The organiser of the seminar, namely, the Institute of Rail Transport (IRT) was incorporated in 1964 as an autonomous society with headquarters in New delhi. It has branches in other metropolitan cities and major towns. The institute serves as a repository of ideas and thoughts interest impinging on development and modernization of transport systems. By imparting knowledge on railways and other modes like road, riverine, sea and air transport the Institute strives to develop a holistic approach to the transport needs of the country.
