IMC Action Plan

Indian Merchants' Chamber's Infrastructure Committee is commissioning a multidimensional study to come up with a conceptual plan for streamlining and integrating the various modes of surface transportation and logistics systems for smooth and expeditious movement of goods and commodities for the western region i.e. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Chamber will present the plan to chief ministers of these states and also to the Government of India suggesting the importance and the advantages of this infrastructure plan for the national economy and the state economies.
The experts of the Infrastructure Committee, headed by Suneet Maheshwari, unanimously recommend that the IMC's initiative on the integration of interstate logistics should begin in the western region only, as it contributes almost one-third of India's GDP.
This study will consider all other major, minor, state government and central government infrastructure projects, while modelling the infrastructure project for western region with an aim to move goods and passengers within six hours form origin to destination within the region of five states.
According to the Chairman, Suneet Maheshwari, "The successful completion of this project would in the next three or four years serve as a model for emulation by other regions in the country. The streamlining and integration of the logistics systems will lead to reducing the delays in logistics and transportation bottlenecks and reduce the prices of goods and commodities, and make them more competitive in the global market."
The infrastructure project for western region will attract more investment for the region and generate huge employment in various sectors leading to reduction in per capita poverty, standard of life and enhance government revenue.
(M.N. Chaini is President of Indian Merchants' Chamber