India’s Logistics Growth Accelerates Across Roads, Rail, Ports and Air Cargo: Reports

Summary

Rubix Data Sciences’ September 2025 update shows India’s logistics sector moving from a support function to a growth engine. Major infrastructure expansion across roads, rail, ports and air cargo is under way, backed by record capital expenditure and a large project pipeline.

Key metrics: the national highway network has grown by nearly 60% versus a decade ago; road construction rates rose from ~11 km/day in FY14 to ~30 km/day in FY25. The National High-Speed Corridor now exceeds 2,400 km. Rail freight has gained share in automotive logistics (from about 1.5% to almost 25%) helped by dedicated rakes and double-decker wagons. Ports handled almost 1.6 billion tonnes in FY25 with a $20 billion investment pipeline aiming for top-5 maritime status by 2047. Air cargo — especially driven by e-commerce — could scale from roughly $5 billion today to as much as $200 billion by 2030. Government-led projects (NHAI executing ₹3.4 trillion across 6,000+ km) and FY25 capex of ₹2.5 trillion are central to the momentum. Containerised exports grew 9% in H1 amid trade realignments, and logistics costs as a share of GDP have fallen from ~16% to close to 10% with a target of single digits.

Key Points

National highway network up ~60% over the past decade; daily construction rose to ~30 km/day in FY25.
National High-Speed Corridor expanded from <100 km to over 2,400 km, signalling large-scale road investment.
Rail freight share in automotive logistics jumped from ~1.5% to nearly 25% via dedicated rakes and double-decker wagons.
Indian ports handled ~1.6 billion tonnes in FY25; a $20 billion pipeline seeks to lift maritime capacity and competitiveness.
Air cargo stands to benefit massively from e-commerce growth — projections suggest a jump from ~$5bn today to up to $200bn by 2030.
Major NHAI projects valued at ₹3.4 trillion are being executed across 6,000+ km; FY25 capex hit a record ₹2.5 trillion.
Containerised exports rose 9% in H1 as trade realignments and tariff shifts push volumes; logistics costs have fallen from ~16% to ~10% of GDP.

Context and relevance

This update matters because logistics is increasingly strategic for India’s competitiveness, export push and industrial policy (including Make in India). The combined expansion of roads, rail and ports reduces friction, lowers cost-to-serve and reshapes modal choices for shippers and carriers. For investors, developers and supply-chain managers, the project pipeline and the government’s capex trajectory point to near-term demand for capacity, technology and services across warehousing, freight rail, port terminals and air-cargo handling.

Author style

Punchy: This isn’t incremental tinkering — it’s a system-wide upgrade. The numbers (₹ trillions, billions of tonnes, multi-thousand-km corridors) show scale. If you’re in logistics, manufacturing, trade policy or infrastructure investment, the details here could change route planning, network design and capital priorities. Read the full detail if you need to act or invest — it’s not just background reading, it’s a roadmap.

Why should I read this?

Quick and honest — read this if you want to know where capacity and costs are moving. It tells you where roads, rails, ports and airports are expanding, why modal shifts are happening (rail taking share from road), and where the big money is going. In short: it helps you spot opportunities and risks without wading through dry government releases.