Air and Road Linkages Accelerate Last-Mile Logistics in Gujarat

Gujarat has long been recognised as one of India’s most industrially vibrant states, powered by a long coastline, extensive manufacturing clusters, busy ports, and active infrastructure policy. In recent years the state has focused on strengthening two logistics pillars: air cargo capacity and road connectivity. When these channels operate together they transform last-mile logistics by enabling faster, more predictable, and cost-efficient delivery of goods to the final consumer.

Businesses in Gujarat — from exporters of textiles and pharmaceuticals to e-commerce operators and MSMEs — rely heavily on timely and reliable logistics. Air cargo shortens the time required for long-distance or high-value shipments, while upgraded highways, ring roads, and urban connectors speed distribution within and between cities. Together, air and road linkages help goods move from factory to warehouse to retail and finally to the doorstep with minimal delay, positioning Gujarat as a national logistics hub.

Basics: what we mean by air and road linkages

Air linkages include airport cargo terminals, freighter and belly-cargo capacity, integrated cargo handling facilities (including cold chain for perishables), and value-added services such as customs clearance, palletisation and express courier hubs.

Road linkages include national and state highways, expressways, city ring roads and radial connectors, access ramps to logistics parks and airports, and urban street networks that allow delivery vans to reach neighbourhoods.

When air and road linkages are coordinated — for example, an air freighter arriving at an airport whose cargo is quickly processed at an integrated terminal and dispatched by vans over an expressway to a city hub — the time from factory gate to consumer falls dramatically. Digital systems (real-time tracking, electronic waybills) and physical infrastructure (fast customs lanes, smooth highway ramps) are the connective tissue enabling that speed.

Why Gujarat matters for last-mile logistics

Geography and industrial density: Gujarat houses major industrial cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Bhavnagar, as well as special economic zones and industrial clusters. This creates sustained and diversified cargo demand.

Port and airport complementarity: Gujarat’s ports handle large bulk volumes, while air movement serves time-sensitive and high-value goods (electronics, pharmaceuticals, fashion, perishables). Road networks complete the chain by moving cargo between ports, airports, logistics parks and markets.

Policy and planning: Gujarat’s logistics policies and land-use planning prioritise multimodal connectivity and streamlined approvals, making it simpler to site warehouses and cold-chain facilities near airports and highways.

These strengths mean investments in cargo terminals, link roads and logistics parks in Gujarat pay off disproportionately in improved delivery speed and reduced costs.

Recent infrastructure moves that matter

• Integrated airport cargo terminals: Airports in Gujarat have upgraded or built cargo handling facilities with larger storage, temperature-controlled rooms and faster processing to reduce dwell time and increase throughput.

• Expressways and ring roads: New and upgraded expressways and city ring roads reduce travel time, lower fuel consumption and improve on-time performance for delivery trucks and vans, enabling wider same-day and next-day coverage.

• Logistics parks and consolidation hubs: Logistics parks located near highways and airports act as regional consolidation/deconsolidation points, providing warehousing, cold chains, reverse logistics and last-mile staging facilities.

• Digital and operational improvements: Adoption of electronic waybills, slot booking systems at terminals and integrated tracking between carriers, airports and warehouses is improving handoff speed.

How air + road linkages improve last-mile outcomes (mechanics)

1. Speed — Air transport reduces long domestic or international legs; expressways and efficient urban connectors shave minutes or hours from truck travel, enabling quicker final delivery.

2. Reliability — Modern cargo facilities with digital processing and good highways reduce variability from delays, enabling tighter scheduling for last-mile fleets.

3. Cost efficiency — For high-value or time-sensitive goods the air+road combination reduces spoilage, damage and inventory days, which lowers total logistics cost per unit.

4. Cold chain enablement — Airport cold-chain facilities combined with refrigerated vans on quality roads let Gujarat’s agricultural and pharmaceutical producers reach distant markets with maintained quality.

5. Environmental potential — Although aviation has higher emissions per tonne-km, shorter dwell times and consolidated last-mile planning reduce unnecessary handling. Wider adoption of electric vehicles for the last mile can further lower urban emissions.

Business and social importance for Gujarat

• Export competitiveness: Faster and more reliable logistics make Gujarat exporters more competitive, especially for time-sensitive and high-value goods.

• SME/MSME access: Small enterprises in tier-2 and tier-3 towns can access larger markets when last-mile costs and times decrease.

• E-commerce and consumer expectations: With the rise of online retail, reliable last-mile networks enable same-day and next-day delivery across Gujarat’s urban and peri-urban areas.

• Employment and skill development: Logistics parks and terminal operations create blue- and white-collar jobs in driving, packing, cold-chain management and logistics IT.

• Emergency logistics: Robust air and road linkages improve the state’s ability to deliver relief supplies and urgent medical goods during crises.

Challenges and what to watch

• Urban congestion: Inner-city bottlenecks, limited loading bays and parking restrictions can undercut last-mile performance unless cities adopt freight management measures.

• Intermodal coordination: Physical infrastructure alone is insufficient; customs processes, interoperable IT systems and coordinated scheduling across modes are essential.

• Land constraints: Siting logistics parks sufficiently close to airports and industrial clusters requires careful land-use planning and sometimes public-private partnerships.

• Environmental tradeoffs: Balancing needed air movement with emissions goals calls for policies promoting EV adoption for last-mile fleets and more rail/coastal shipping for non-urgent bulk cargo.

Policy levers that accelerate gains

• Priority approvals for airport access roads, logistics park linkages and cold-chain units.

• Incentives for cargo terminal upgrades and adoption of automated handling to attract global freight forwarders and express carriers.

• Urban freight management that creates dedicated loading zones, regulated delivery time windows and designated freight lanes in congested zones.

• Digital standards and interoperability — mandating e-waybills, interoperable tracking and slot booking to reduce dwell and waiting times.

• Support for cleaner last-mile technologies — incentives for electric delivery vehicles and renewable-powered logistics parks.

When planners and businesses align on multimodal hubs, integrated IT, and smart urban freight rules, Gujarat can accelerate delivery speeds, expand markets for SMEs, and strengthen its role as a national logistics hub.

Takeaway

Air and road linkages are complementary pieces of a modern logistics puzzle. In Gujarat, the combination of upgraded airport cargo capacity, new expressways and ring-road projects, supportive logistics-park policy, and concentrated industrial demand creates fertile ground for last-mile transformation. Strengthened multimodal hubs, better digital integration, and urban freight planning will reduce delays, cut costs, and expand market access for businesses of all sizes. These gains not only boost competitiveness and employment but also enable more resilient and responsive supply chains across the state.

In case of any query regarding Air and Road Linkages Accelerate Last-Mile Logistics in Gujarat, feel free to connect with our legal experts, Tulja Legal, at +91 96380-69905

About the Author

Anju S Nair

Legal Researcher | LLB, MA English| Corporate Lawyer | Business Enthusiast | Founder & CEO at iLawbook.

FAQs

1. What is last-mile logistics?
   Last-mile logistics is the final movement of goods from a local distribution hub to the end customer.

2. Why is last-mile efficiency important for Gujarat?
   Gujarat’s industrial output and growing retail demand make timely, reliable deliveries essential for competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

3. How do airports accelerate last-mile delivery?
   Airports shrink long-haul time. Fast customs, cargo handling and cold-chain zones at airports ensure quicker transfer to road transport for final delivery.

4. Which Gujarat cities benefit most?
   Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and their surrounding industrial belts benefit significantly.

5. Do SMEs in smaller towns benefit?
   Yes. Better connections to hubs and expressways let SMEs access new markets and reduce spoilage, especially for perishables.

6. What role do logistics parks play?
   They provide warehousing, consolidation/deconsolidation, cold storage and staging areas that streamline last-mile dispatch.

7. Are there environmental concerns?
   Yes — air freight is emission-intensive. The solution includes selective use of air for urgent goods, wider EV adoption for last-mile and modal shifts to rail/coastal shipping where feasible.

8. How can cities improve urban last-mile performance?
   By creating loading bays, designating delivery windows, planning freight lanes and integrating urban freight into transport planning.

9. Is cold-chain capacity part of the upgrades?
   Yes. Temperature-controlled storage at airports and refrigerated road transport are central to moving perishables and pharmaceuticals safely.

10. What immediate policy actions help the most?
    Fast-tracking access roads and logistics parks, incentivising cargo terminal upgrades, and mandating interoperable digital systems.

References

1. Gujarat Integrated Logistics and Logistics Park Policy, Government of Gujarat — full policy document (PDF):
   https://logistics.gov.in/media/stateut/Gujarat.pdf

2. NDTV coverage — “Ahmedabad Airport Unveils Integrated Cargo Terminal To Boost Gujarat's Export Logistics”:
   https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ahmedabad-airport-unveils-integrated-cargo-terminal-to-boost-gujarats-export-logistics-9223453

3. The Times of India — “New cargo terminal at Ahmedabad airport grabs 70% of international freight in first month”:
   https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/new-cargo-terminal-at-ahmedabad-airport-grabs-70-of-international-freight-in-first-month/articleshow/123488574.cms

4. Maritime Gateway — “Ahmedabad airport’s new cargo terminal emerges as key freight hub”:
   https://www.maritimegateway.com/ahmedabad-airports-new-cargo-terminal-emerges-as-key-freight-hub/

5. Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board — Logistics initiatives and logistics park policy pages:
   https://gidb.devitsandbox.com/projects/logistics/logistics_parks_policy