The Modal Model

The government's larger initiatives like GST and specific ones to transform ports such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors and relaxation in Cabotage Law, in tandem with technological innovations such as IoT, robotics, and unmanned vehicles and equipment, will first impact transportation of containers, rather than passengers.

- Karan Adani

At times I feel our ports have been left behind in the mainstream tech conversations across industries. However, a clued in stakeholder will know how technology is going to disrupt our basic business functioning and that the transformation is nearer than it seems. The good part is that in India, the government got the timing right in terms of larger initiatives to transform ports. The Sagarmala programme is driving improvements at government-owned ports, while Bharatmala and Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) will provide impetus to hinterland connectivity at Indian ports. DFCs will also provide higher capacity, speed and priority to cargo movement, which will have a substantial impact on the efficiency of cargo movement.