Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today highlighted that seamless logistics management was a deciding factor in the success of Operation Sindoor. The Minister said this while virtually addressing the convocation ceremony of Vadodara-based Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. Mr Singh emphasised that logistics should be seen through the prism of strategic importance and not just as a process of delivering goods.
Mr Singh highlighted the importance of logistics in the economic progress of the country, terming it as one of the main pillars which connect every step, from pre-production to consumption. He termed the contribution of logistics in India’s GDP as important both directly and indirectly, while also underlining the crucial role it played during COVID, when lakhs of vaccines, oxygen cylinders and medical teams reached from one place to another in a time of need.
The minister pointed out that India has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development in the last 11 years, and the foundation of this transformation, which is being carried out with a holistic and integrated approach, has been laid through policy reforms and mission-mode projects. He added that its impact is not limited to physical connectivity, but it has also increased economic productivity, reduced logistics cost and improved service delivery.
On the crucial role played by GSV, Mr Singh stated the ‘gati’ with which the youth are providing ‘shakti’ to the country is commendable. He described digitisation, automation, real-time tracking, AI-enabled logistics forecasting, and sustainable freight systems as national necessities for India in today’s times. The minister also appreciated the efforts of GSV and the students for making headway in these subjects.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the transformational changes in Indian Railways over the past 11 years. He noted that the rail network has expanded by 5,300 kilometers in past one year itself and tunnel construction has reached 368 kilometers. Mr. Vaishnaw encouraged the graduating students to contribute to India’s development journey, emphasizing the importance of innovation in the sector. He referred to the youth as the “engines of growth” and urged them to support the vision of a developed India by 2047.
A total of 194 students received degrees in various disciplines during the convocation. One student from each course was honoured with the Academic Excellence Award, while Outstanding Project and Best Student Awards were also presented.
