The economic development or prosperity of a country is dependent to a large extent on the physical infrastructure that enables the economic activities, production & services. Logistics infrastructure enables movement of people, goods and services across the length & breadth of the country. The primary modes of logistics are high seas and coastal shipping, rail, road, metro, inland waterways, air transport and pipeline transport.
India is well served by a long coastline of 5,560 Kms with access to the sea on three sides with 13 major and 168 minor/intermediate ports. Major ports are directly under the administrative control of Central Government while minor/intermediate ports are managed and administered by respective maritime State Governments. The Indian Railways is among the world's largest rail networks. The Indian Railways route length network is spread over 115,000 km, with 12,617 passenger trains and 7,421 freight trains each day from 7,349 stations plying 23 million travelers and 3 million tons (MT) of freight daily. It is a largely managed as a Government departmental undertaking.
India has a road network of over 5.5 Mln km which makes it the second-largest road network in the world. On the Air travel front, India has about 486 total airports, airstrips, flying schools and military bases in the country that includes 34 international airports and 123 airports with scheduled commercial flights including some with dual civilian and army use. India also has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks with a navigable length of about 9000 km that moves about 44 MT cargo annually using mechanized vessels and country boats. India is further building extensive pipeline infrastructure that is also the most convenient, efficient and economical mode of transporting liquids like petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas, water, milk, etc. An estimate points to existence of more than 13000 km gas pipeline, about 2000 km liquid petroleum gas pipeline, about 9000 km oil & mixed liquid pipeline and about 11000 km pipeline for refined products.
Over the years, the Indian Government came to a realization that it does not have to maintain the monopoly in infrastructure and thence has been inviting private participation in infrastructure building. The issues of heavy capital investments, long gestation periods, externalities, high risks, and also low returns on investment continue to be formidable challenges in getting more private participation. However, the favourable demand-supply gap for infrastructure, technology availability and a favorable government policy framework promises more private participation in future.
As the logistics industry grows along with the ever increasing demand, it is important to establish platforms to disseminate knowledge, promote innovation and research, foster collaboration, and nurture future think tanks to make this growth sustainable. The Centre of Excellence in Surface and Air Transport (CSAT) is an initiative by Adani Institute of Infrastructure (AII) which exactly aims driving a collaborative effort among the industry experts and academic think tanks.
Having the support of the fastest growing conglomerate in India with a vast experience in global infrastructure, CSAT envisions itself as a state of the art knowledge podium with an ensemble of industry experts and academicians from premier national & international institutions. With an insatiable appetite for excellence, the CSAT foresees itself as an Indian thought leader in real estate and urban development with a global outreach.
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