GUWAHATI: Assam has joined 15 other states and UTs, including Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, in the 'Achievers Category' of the LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2022 Report released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.
Assam, however, has achieved highest rating in terms of quality of infrastructure and reliability of logistics services, including the operating and regulatory environment in the logistics ecosystem of the state.
LEADS 2022 is a national index that analyses and ranks the states across India according to the quality of logistics. It provides three performance categories – Achievers (states and UTs achieving 90 per cent or more), Fast Movers (states and UTs scoring between 80 and 90 per cent), and Aspirers (states and UTs with percentage scoring below 80 per cent).
The LEADS survey assesses viewpoints of various users and stakeholders across the logistics value chain (Shippers, Terminal Infrastructure Service Providers, Logistics Service Providers, Transporters and Government agencies) to understand the 'enablers' and 'impediments' to the logistics ecosystem in the country.
Assam's rating is based on Assam government's initiatives like: Introduction of Assam Logistics and Warehousing Policy, 2022; deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognizing (ANPR) system on NH-37 which runs through Kaziranga National Park; implementation of a web-based E-Challan system; establishment of Drivers and Conductors Training School in Guwahati; along with the National Institute for Automotive Inspection Maintenance and Training (NIAIMT) at Silchar.
Coupled with the other initiatives, a Multi-Modal Logistic park is being developed at Jojighopa and terminals of Inland Waterways are being set up.
Besides Assam, the other states in the Achievers category are Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
States listed in the Fast Movers category include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura.
The Aspirers category of the ratings have states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
The index aims to boost the logistics performance across India, which is critical for reducing the cost of transactions and boosting international and domestic trade.
The LEADS 2022 will assist in the implementation of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) and the National Logistics Policy (NLP) by identifying gaps in the existing logistics services, infrastructure and regulatory environment.
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