<p data-path-to-node="2"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0">MUMBAI</b> — The Association of Multimodal Transport Operators of India (AMTOI), the apex national body representing multi-modal logistics operators and freight forwarders, has officially concluded its 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club in Colaba, Mumbai. Bringing together prominent logistics professionals, port administrators, shipping line executives, and government policymakers, the convention set out an aggressive roadmap to accelerate intermodal freight synchronization, scale up coastal container shipping, and drive down national logistics overheads under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.</p><p data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">New Leadership Induction for the 2026–27 Mandate</b>&nbsp;</p><p data-path-to-node="3">The statutory AGM marked the formal induction of AMTOI’s new Executive Leadership Council for the 2026–27 term:</p><ul data-path-to-node="4"><li><p data-path-to-node="4,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="4,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">President:</b> Mr. Devpal Menon</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="4,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="4,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Vice President:</b> Mr. Haresh Lalwani</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="4,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="4,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Honorary Secretary:</b> Mr. Prashant Popat</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="4,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="4,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Honorary Treasurer:</b> Mr. Ravindra Gandhi</p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="5">Taking charge as President, Devpal Menon underscored that the association will prioritize policy advocacy aimed at dismantling operational bottlenecks across rail-sea-road corridors. He emphasized that transitioning domestic freight movements from carbon-intensive road haulage toward synchronized rail and coastal shipping pathways is vital to achieving single-digit logistics costs as a percentage of India's GDP.</p><p data-path-to-node="6"><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="0">Key Deliberations and Industry Honors</b></p><p data-path-to-node="6">

The AGM was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Farhad Forbes, Co-Chairman of Forbes Marshall, who delivered an address on <i data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="151">“Family Business Fuelling India’s Economic Growth,”</i> highlighting how agility and governance in private enterprise power India's industrial manufacturing supply chains. Capt. B.V.J.K. Sharma, senior maritime industry veteran and Managing Director of Gateway Distriparks, addressed the gathering as Guest of Honour, emphasizing the need for end-to-end digital integration between dry ports, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), and deepwater container terminals.</p><p data-path-to-node="7">A major highlight of the evening was the conferral of the prestigious <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="70">Late Shri P.K. Srivastava Award for Excellence in Multimodalism</b> upon <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="139">Mr. T. Venkataraman</b>. Instituted in memory of AMTOI’s founding President and former Chairman &amp; Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), the biennial citation recognized Mr. Venkataraman's long-standing leadership in pioneering multimodal rail corridors and port-hinterland connectivity across the subcontinent. The association also released the latest edition of the <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="526">AMTOI Journal</i> and awarded Citations of Honour to long-standing member corporations.</p><p data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Strategic Roadmap: Digital Bills of Lading and Seamless Connectivity</b></p><p data-path-to-node="8">

During the policy and technical sessions, the managing committee reaffirmed AMTOI's focus on several key pillars:</p><ul data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Standardizing Electronic Bills of Lading (e-BL):</b> Driving legal recognition and widespread commercial adoption of digital e-BLs to eradicate physical paperwork friction and compress port gate clearance times.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Digital Interoperability via ULIP:</b> Integrating multi-modal carrier operations into the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and <i data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="135">Sagar Setu</i> maritime single-window to provide real-time end-to-end container visibility.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Expanding Coastal and Inland Waterway Feeder Loops:</b> Collaborating with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to resolve cabotage and coastal handling tariff disparities, making water-borne transit an economical alternative to trunk highway routes.</p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="10">The AGM concluded with a resolution to form specialized working sub-committees dedicated to air-cargo sea integration, green logistics compliance, and cold-chain intermodal transit, ensuring AMTOI members remain central architects of India's evolving supply chain ecosystem.</p>