The union Finance Ministry has granted infrastructure status to the logistics sector.
Logistics infrastructure includes
multi-modal logistics park comprising an inland container depot
cold chain facility
warehousing facility
The implications of getting infrastructure status include
It will get longer maturity loans compared to typical manufacturing sector
It will be eligible for slightly higher equity ratios while applying for loans
It will have certain advantages and flexibility while applying external commercial borrowing
It will allow doing refinancing with specialized lenders like IDFC, IIFCL etc
It is expected that it will improve efficiency and reduce the cost of capital in transportation and warehousing, thereby reducing the cost of logistics.
Development of logistics would give a boost to both domestic and external demand thereby encouraging manufacturing and 'job creation' which in turn be instrumental in improving country's GDP.
In 2017, India’s logistics performance improved from 54 to 35 under World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
It was recommended by the Commerce Ministry and subsequently approved by Finance Ministry.