Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appealed to people and industries to reduce fuel consumption and avoid buying gold during heightened West Asia tensions. While the message is aimed at strengthening India’s economic resilience, logistics, cargo leaders believe it could become a catalyst for long-term transformation across the supply chain. Industry experts said emphasis on fuel efficiency, public transport usage, and reduced imports reflects a broader strategy to shield the economy from volatile crude prices and forex pressures. “Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption and non-essential travel is driven by West Asia crisis. The move plans to reduce import dependence, conserve forex, and encourage fuel efficiency, and cost optimisation,” said Nomita Kothari, CEO, Newglobe Logistik LLP. She said the logistics sector could see a transition toward sustainable and technology-driven operations as firms look to cut transportation costs. CK Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight, said, “The PM’s appeal reflects a cautious approach amid global economic uncertainty and rising energy costs. Reduced fuel consumption and lower non-essential travel could impact passenger flights thus affecting belly capacity and increasing cargo costs on certain sectors,” he explained. “Increased work from home practices and use of public transport may ease urban congestion, improve last-mile delivery movement. Encouraging EV adoption can reduce fuel dependency. Overall, the appeal acts as a policy push towards sustainability and long-term resilience,” Kothari added.
Pallak Kashyap is a reporter at CargoTalk, specialising in aviation and logistics. He covers the air cargo sector through news stories, interviews and on-ground reporting, with a clear focus on supply chains, operational trends and industry developments. His work aims to break down complex logistics narratives into practical, easy-to-understand insights for the trade. Beyond reporting, he closely follows evolving business trends and the forces shaping the future of global logistics.
