Mumbai has swiftly risen as the Asia‑Pacific region’s most favoured logistics hub, combining robust infrastructure growth, shifting global supply chains, and a resolute drive towards eco‑friendly, low‑carbon operations. Fueled by strong occupier confidence and strategic policy initiatives, India is redefining logistics for a sustainable urban future.
In a recent CBRE survey covering 380 Asia‑Pacific logistics occupiers, nearly 70 per cent signalled plans to expand their footprint in India over the next two years, placing the country at the forefront regionally. With more than 80 per cent of Indian participants – both domestic and multinationals – intent on scaling warehousing capacity, the findings underscore a deep‑rooted confidence in India’s infrastructure, including ports, highways, and industrial parks.
This rapid rise is being driven by several critical catalysts: India’s expanding third‑party logistics networks, targeted government programmes like the Sagarmala ports modernisation and Bharatmala freight corridors, and the expansion of on‑demand, mechanised warehousing under Multi‑Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) . These measures are not just slashing transit costs and times—they are helping reduce urban congestion and local air pollution, underscoring the nation’s commitment to sustainable cities.
Despite broader APAC caution—particularly amid trade uncertainty and rising costs—India’s logistic sector remains resilient, fuelled by domestic consumption, global supply chain realignment, and long‑term structural investment. This resilience aligns with the government’s vision of gender‑neutral employment and equitable urban opportunities, as logistics hubs in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities generate new jobs across skill levels.
Yet, the narrative isn’t just about scale. India is emerging as a testing ground for green logistics: electric fleets powered by renewable energy, advanced route‑optimisation to reduce idle times, and AI‑enabled “smart” industrial parks . The Lancet‑backed Laneshift initiative has piloted e‑trucks on the Bengaluru–Chennai corridor, demonstrating lower emissions and operating cost savings. Meanwhile, predictive analytics and real‑time tracking slash fuel consumption and demurrage at urban nodes.
Policy support remains central. The National Infrastructure Pipeline channels funding into freight corridors, ports, and multimodal parks, closing gaps in road‑rail interconnectivity and enabling double‑stack freight trains electrified with increasingly green grid power. These integrated efforts are setting new benchmarks in supply chain efficiency, congestion reduction, and carbon mitigation—a blend of business acumen and public purpose.
Critically, India’s logistics transformation supports inclusive urban development. As logistics zones flourish, they create equitable employment, empower women in supply‑chain roles, and spur the growth of sustainable satellite cities, easing pressure on congested metros.
Looking ahead, India must ensure green logistics scale with technological standards, regulatory clarity, and adequate financing for smaller operators transitioning to zero‑carbon fleets. Success here will determine whether its urban centres can truly forge zero‑net‑carbon, resilient, and equitable futures.
Mumbai and India’s metropolitan corridors offer a compelling model. As global supply chains pivot, the nation’s logistics rise is not just strategic—it is urban climate action in motion. The balancing act continues, but India’s path positions it as the region’s logistics trailblazer with a human‑centric, planet‑centric ethos.
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