Date:27/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/27/stories/2005012700991000.htm

Back Call for integrated transport policy

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Jan. 26

THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for an integrated transport policy framework, which would encourage competitive pricing and coordination between alternative modes.

Moreover, in order to address issues relating to improving the overall transport infrastructure in the country, the CII is organising Trans-Log-Net: A National Conference on Transport Infrastructure & Logistics Network, on February 2 here.

"The need for an integrated transport policy becomes imperative since the adequacy and reliability of transport infrastructure and services are important factors, which contribute towards the ability of the country to compete in the field of internal trade and attract foreign direct investment (FDI)," said the CII in a statement.

Pointing out that "the Indian transport network is characterised by many deficiencies and a major exercise in expansion of capacity and modernisation is the need of the hour," the industry body has said that there is ample "opportunity for technological up-gradation in each of the transport sectors".

The chamber also stressed on the need to increase annual investment levels to three to four times the present level in real terms in the transport sector. Given the scarcity of budget resources, bulk of the effort to meet the additional investment requirement should come through generation of resources from within the sector, it added. The pricing of transport and user charges would therefore have to play a much larger role than in the past.

Various stakeholders from the Government, private sector and public enterprises would be participating in the conference.

Some of the key speakers include Mr D.T. Joseph, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping; Mr Ashok Kheny, Managing Director, NICE Ltd; Mr K.V. Rangaswami, Senior Vice-President, Larsen & Tubro Ltd; Mr K. Ramachand, Managing Director, Consolidated Toll Road Network Ltd; Mr Cyrus Guzder, Chairman, CII National Committee on Civil Aviation and Chairman, AFL Logistics Ltd; Mr L. Ganesh, Chairman, CII National Committee on Surface Transport and Chairman & Managing Director, Rane Engine Valves Ltd and Mr B. Sridhar, Chairman, CII Core Group on Maritime Sector and Managing Director, Bengal Tiger Ltd, among others.