Infrastructure development is a critical enabler to economic growth. Logistics infrastructure, covering the road, rail, waterways and air network is the backbone to a country’s development. As a large part of India’s future logistics network is still to be built, there is ample scope here to build optimally, to meet the growing demand.

Catering to this need, Project Logistics is now evolving as a strategic function beyond mere transportation and storage services to provide end-to-end solutions that improve efficiencies.

The rapid pace of progress and urbanization in India today, has given rise to the need for better and more efficient rail transport. The prestigious Delhi Metro Rail Project is one such in a long list of Rail-based mass rapid transit system (MRTS) projects in the metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Apart from providing a reliable, pollution-free journey for commuters, the metro trains are faster and safer too.

Allcargo Global Logistics Ltd proved a worthy logistics partner for project cargo by netting the prestigious project shipment of 424 cars for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Allcargo & the Delhi Metro

It was a memorable day at Allcargo Global Logistics, when we accomplished the movement by receiving and transporting the first two of a total of 424 Metro Rail Cars, air freighted by our partners to Delhi. What made the occasion even more special was the fact that the project cargo was a first of its kind in Asia!

The assignment included rolling-off the Metro Rail Cars from a cargo aircraft at Delhi Airport, loading them onto trailers, transportation through a specially designed hydraulic trailer from the airport to Khyber Pass Depot, unloading on to the railway track of Delhi Metro. The cars were 22 metres long and weighed 42 tons each.

It was indeed awe inspiring to see history in the making as the spanking new metro rail cars made their circuitous journey to be offloaded onto the railway tracks. The trailers were fabricated to ensure no stress to the precious cargo, using a new technology indigenously designed by our projects team. A salient feature of the project was the deputation of our engineer to Germany for training on roll-on & roll-off. And our engineer accompanied the metro car in the aircraft from Germany to Delhi.

Although this project had its fair share of challenging moments, meticulous planning, observation of all safety norms and team work ensured that the job was completed safely and in record time - a fact which was appreciated by DMRC, Bombardier and the industry.

Allcargo was also at hand to transport the first four standard gauge coaches for DMRC at Mundra Port in Gujarat on March 15, 2009. The train set was supplied by South Korean Consortium Hyundai-Rotem. The coaches are the first standard gauge type to be operated in India and are more advanced, offering convenience and safety to passengers.

The metro coaches were transported by Allcargo by road from Mundra Port to the DMRC Depot in Mundka, Delhi, where intensive testing and commissioning were performed before putting them into service.

As logistics partners in the Delhi Metro Rail Project, Allcargo Global Logistics Ltd is truly proud to be able to play a role in the development of a world-class rail infrastructure in the country.

Though green issues have for long been brushed under the carpet in favour of business gains, the recent Japanese crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has been a wakeup call like no other. But over the past decade, increased governmental regulation, the development of international certification standards and changes in consumer demands have increased the pressure on many companies to incorporate environmental philosophies into their every-day business.

Today, more than ever before, there is an increased consciousness that economic and environmental development can go hand in hand and even be mutually advantageous. Green buildings, rainwater harvesting and harnessing renewable forms of energy have become the norm among socially responsible Companies. But the most environmentally harmful logistics activity is transportation as it contributes to increased levels of green-house gases which in turn cause climate change. Thus logistics is an area that is highly relevant to environmental awareness and eco-friendly strategies.

A growing environmental consciousness among corporate firms and logistics providers is perhaps the silver lining in the Japanese crisis. Many companies have realized that reducing the amount of energy consumed, the volume of greenhouse gases emitted and the number of cardboard & pallets used in the transport of parts and finished products is significant to reduction of the environmental footprint of products over their entire life cycle.

In socially-responsible companies, product design, procurement, manufacturing and logistics departments are working together to promote a packaging improvement initiative. This has a cascading effect as during the course of product package improvement, product loading efficiency to container is increased by shrinking package sizes and optimization of loading efficiency is achieved through transportation variation – all contributing to reduction of environmental impact.

Many environmentally responsible companies have promoted the sharing of shipments with other companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Sharing shipment to increase loading efficiency also helps consolidate truck loading.

As achieving sustainable development – economically, socially and environmentally – is our goal at Allcargo Global Logistics Ltd., we have adopted many environment-friendly measures as part of our green initiatives. “Green Logistics” is the buzzword today, as better planning and coordination within a logistics system has a positive effect on the transport cost while simultaneously bringing down the environmental impact.