Danish supply chain solutions provider Maersk ramped up rail service in India during the national lockdown aimed to curb the COVID-19 spread. During the lockdown, Indian rail transports are allowed to operate as it falls under “essential services.” However, supply chains in India were severely impacted because trucking services lacked drivers who chose to return to their hometowns. The trucking service has not fully recovered even as some restrictions have been lifted.
This condition hampered Indian companies’ ability to deliver their cargoes to both domestic and overseas markets. To keep exports on track, Maersk provides rail service which includes transporting cargoes from the exporters’ manufacturing sites to port. Maersk also loads goods onto rail cars after moving them by road to the closest Inland Container Depot.
According to Maersk, movement at its rail service increased 30% compared to pre-lockdown levels. Its Indian clients, including large petrochemical manufacturers and automakers, can avoid pressure on logistics infrastructure by taking advantage of the reliability and speed of rail transports.
