Gujarat’s Logistics Boom: Why Infrastructure Is the Key to Industrial Growth

Gujarat is rapidly emerging as the centerpiece of India’s industrial and logistics transformation. From Bhavnagar to Rajkot and Surat to Jamnagar, the state is becoming synonymous with efficient logistics, industrial growth, and seamless connectivity. At the heart of this progress lies a robust commitment to planning, investing, and executing key infrastructure projects that are fueling the rise of Gujarat as a logistics powerhouse. 

Driving this change are proactive policies from the Gujarat government, aided by the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB), and strong private sector participation from companies like Godwitt Construction Pvt. Ltd., Maersk, and Adani Logistics. Collectively, these efforts are expediting the completion of a multi-modal logistics ecosystem, ensuring Gujarat remains at the forefront of India’s logistics landscape.

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Strategic Advantage – Gujarat’s Infrastructure Blueprint

Strategic Location & Growing Demand

Strategically located along a 1,600 km coastline, Gujarat provides direct access to major ports like Mundra, Kandla, and Dahej, unlocking efficiencies in global cargo movement. The coastal advantage, backed by its proximity to Northern and Central India, positions Gujarat as an ideal logistics hub for freight movement, creating key linkages in the national supply chain. 

According to IMARC Group, India’s logistics sector is projected to grow from USD 317 billion in 2024 to USD 484 billion by 2029, driven by infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation, and rising demand from sectors like FMCG, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals, all of which have a strong base in Gujarat.

The PM Gati Shakti Gujarat masterplan and the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) are integral to this transformation. They enable the Gujarat government and its nodal agencies like the GIDB to streamline logistics, develop a unified logistics interface, and monitor projects worth over Rs 500 crore via the Project Monitoring Group.

Ports – The Maritime Backbone

Gujarat is home to several major ports supporting bulk and containerized cargo. 

Mundra Port, operated by Adani, is India’s largest commercial port. It handled 155 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2021–22. Kandla Port, now Deendayal Port Authority, processed 137.56 million tonnes in FY 2022–23.

These major ports, along with others like Hazira and Dahej, offer world-class cargo handling capacity, streamlined customs procedures, and multimodal connectivity with rail and road networks. The integration of port infrastructure with city logistics and hinterlands makes managing logistics operations faster and more cost-effective.

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Strong Road and Rail Connectivity

Over 5,000 km of National Highways traverse Gujarat, connecting Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Gandhinagar with industrial corridors and ports. Highways linked to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) enhance logistics efficiency, reducing turnaround time and overall logistics costs. 

Rail connectivity has witnessed a quantum leap with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). The Western DFC passes through Gujarat and connects ports to key industrial zones. The DFC has improved freight capacity by enabling faster and more predictable movement. 

These corridors don’t just streamline logistics; they make Gujarat a more attractive destination for logistics companies and manufacturing giants alike.

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Industrial Corridors and Special Zones

The Ahmedabad-Dholera and Bharuch-Dahej nodes under the DMIC offer plug-and-play infrastructure, digital connectivity, and rail-road-port integration. Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), spanning over 920 sq km, is a futuristic zone with logistics parks, city logistics systems, and renewable energy networks supporting sustainability and green logistics.

These industrial zones, developed with support from municipal corporations and backed by various government schemes, are removing hurdles for large-scale infrastructure projects and expediting development timelines.

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Land Availability and Ease of Execution

One of Gujarat’s biggest advantages over other states lies in its land acquisition strategy. Industrial and logistics projects in regions like Rajkot, Junagadh, and Bhavnagar are being prioritized through pre-approved land reserves and incentives like concessional stamp duty and subsidized electricity. 

This reduces startup delays and allows infrastructure players like Godwitt Ltd. to develop warehouse hubs and logistics operations rapidly. Their logistics park near Sanand, Ahmedabad, is serving nearby industrial giants with modern supply chain solutions, turning idle zones into fully functional integrated logistics parks in under a year. 

The role of private players has been vital, accelerated by models introduced under PM Gati Shakti Gujarat.

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Digital Transformation and ULIP

India is now leveraging digital governance across logistics platforms. The Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) integrates 30-plus systems across seven ministries, enabling real-time data exchange and improving logistics ease across different states. 

GIDB officials and GIDB CEO P Swaroop have emphasized technology's role in boosting the performance of logistics infrastructure and highlighted Gujarat’s benchmarks in ULIP compliance. As freight loads and warehouse demands surge by 2025, platforms like ULIP will drive efficiency and transparency in the logistics sector.

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Comprehensive Logistics Ecosystem

Gujarat is already setting benchmarks, with industrial belts near Vadodara and Surat reaping the benefits of comprehensive logistics management that includes city logistics, freight corridors, and integrated infrastructure.

Cold chain services, key logistics hubs like Gandhinagar, and warehousing zones near International Airport nodes are critical in ensuring the smooth functioning of Gujarat’s growing logistics service sector. With Adani Logistics and Maersk investing heavily, the focus is increasingly shifting to eco-efficient and smart logistics facilities that streamline end-to-end freight and cargo operations.

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Conclusion

Gujarat's logistics success is driven by a synchronized strategy uniting government policy, strong infrastructure, and private sector execution. The Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board has played a pivotal role in aligning key industrial development milestones under one umbrella while empowering private logistics companies and EPC firms to deliver timely, scalable solutions.

From key logistics nodes in Ahmedabad to freight corridors cutting across Gujarat, the state's network is being built not just for today, but with 2025 and beyond in mind. With fully integrated projects backed by PM Gati Shakti, the dedicated freight corridor, and digital solutions like ULIP, Gujarat’s logistics sector offers a real blueprint for national replication.

As industries shift towards high-speed, multi-modal supply chains, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are taking notes,  but it is Gujarat, with its proactive policies and infrastructure-first approach, that is setting the gold standard.

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