FASTag impact! Waiting time down from almost 12 minutes to 47 seconds at toll plazas – Times of India

India has told the World Bank that it has made substantial progress in reducing waiting times at toll plazas and export release times at land ports. The average waiting time at toll plazas has been reduced to just 47 seconds – thanks to FASTag – a significant improvement from the previous waiting time of 714 seconds.
Similarly, the export release time at land ports has been reduced to 22 hours in 2022 from 101 hours in 2021.This showcases commitment to enhancing efficiency in the logistics sector, India told the World Bank according to an ET report.
During a recent meeting with World Bank officials, the Indian government shared its plans to further enhance the country’s infrastructure. One of the key plans is to add 30,000 km of additional railway tracks by FY31, aiming to expand the railway network and improve connectivity. Additionally, India aims to increase its port capacity to 2,200 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030, up from 1,617 mtpa last year. The national highways network is also set to expand to 185,000 km by 2030, with 75,000 km designated as four-lane and above.The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade led the meeting, as part of the objective of propelling India into the top 25 countries in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI). Sumita Dawra, special secretary (logistics) at DPIIT, stated, “We have showcased initiatives in logistics and infra sectors to the World Bank team, and also next-gen reforms in areas such as rail, road, multimodal shifts, EXIM, customs, green logistics.”
India’s efforts in the logistics sector have yielded positive results, as the country’s ranking on the LPI has improved by six places to 38 out of 139 countries in 2023. This progress highlights India’s commitment to improving its logistics capabilities and facilitating smoother trade and transportation, the government has said.
The railway ministry aims to lay an additional 80,000 km of rail tracks in the next 25 years and increase rail containerization to 35% by 2031.

During the meeting, Dawra also discussed various interventions and initiatives being implemented in logistics, such as integrated logistics parks, digitized systems for freight data analytics, and the simplification of processes. These measures aim to enhance efficiency and streamline logistics operations in the country.
India is actively working towards implementing a land port management system by June next year. This system will aid in tracking consignments, mechanizing cargo handling, and facilitating competitively priced shipments. The Land Ports Authority of India is also in the process of developing 26 new land ports over the next five years, further enhancing India’s logistics infrastructure.