Urban Freight Logistics-1

Even before Covid hit the world, urban traffic was chaotic. Particularly so in India, where the concept of lane discipline and the rights and duties of road users is nonexistent.

Yes, Covid worsened the urban road scenario. The lockdown, coupled with the Work From Home culture, unleashed a new beast onto the Indian roads, lanes, etc., in large measure, thanks to the e-com boom. Buy anything and everything online. Such cyber transactions for tangible goods led to the crowding of motorable(!) pathways, irrespective of their condition.

Convenient indeed to sit on the couch, order groceries, ready-to-eat food, and regular medicines online, and get them delivered to one’s doorstep. I am trying to remember my better half stepping out to the neighborhood kirana stores (hardly 200 steps away, according to Fitbit!) to buy anything.

In a day, we get half a dozen deliveries for a family of two senior citizens. Imagine the gated community of 1000 families with an average size of 4 members per family’s consumption needs. Just not once a day, but multiple times. If one forgets to add an item to the laundry list while ordering, worry not. Place another order. It will be delivered in the next few minutes. Sometimes within 10 minutes. At no extra charge.

Fine, fine. I am not cribbing about this convenient format of living majestically. My worries are about the traffic snarls on the roads, unleashed by all types of urban freight movers, serving humanity with all earnestness it deserves.

Competition is tough. Margins are thin for these service providers. So, the race to be the quickest adds to the need for heightened road safety awareness. Service more. Service quickly. The shortest turnaround time, right?

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