Logistics cost, which is currently at 13-14% of GDP, can be brought down by leveraging the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), by bringing all mode of transportation under a single window by connecting all logistics stakeholders spread across multiple ministries, enterprises and associations, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Monday.
“ULIP will be a game changer for the Indian logistics landscape by assisting just-in-time inventory management, cargo movement monitoring, identification of cheaper logistics modes eliminating tedious documentation process and improve international competitiveness,” Kant said at a post-Budget webinar.
In May 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Nit Aayog to develop technology driven solutions in priority sectors to address challenges for post Covid-19 India. ULIP was one of the seven projects conceptualised under this “technology commons” initiative.
The pilot run of the ULIP platform has already been started with on boarding of some start-ups to verify the usability of the platform.
It converges and integrates 24 systems, 78 APIs and 1454 fields across ports, shipping, waterways, railways, civil aviation, road transport & highways, DGFT & customs.
“Integrating data getting generated at various platforms is one of the most essential requirements to up-lift the logistics sector in India and address its higher transaction cost,” Kant said.