Barriers and Enablers of Green Logistics in Indian Ports

Abstract

Background : A major contributing factor to India’s sustainable development efforts is port based green logistics practices facilitated by various policy frameworks such as Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030, the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines (2023), and the Indian Ports Act (2025). However, the actual implementation of these policies has been uneven, with a noticeable gap between policy goals and their execution on the ground. In this regard, the objective of the current paper is to illuminate various policy initiatives of India in achieving green logistics among maritime logistics service providers, the targets concerned and implementation challenges of doing so. Methodology and methods: This study draws on to examine the key initiatives and challenges to such initiatives influencing the adoption of green logistics by port based logistics service providers (LSPs) in India. Essentially, the paper reviews existing scientific studies on green logistics in maritime sector backed by analysing India’s policy stand, and achievements and challenges on adapting green logistics practices in the case of maritime logistics service providers. In this regard, the study uses a triangulation of review of peer-reviewed literature on sustainability practices or green logistics practices by LSPs, backed by Indian maritime, green logistics initiatives related documents across academic, policy, and port data, and thereby compared on key indicators (renewables, shore power, electrification, green fuels). Results: It is also found that India has established a comprehensive policy framework for green maritime logistics through initiatives such as Maritime India Vision 2030, Harit Sagar Guidelines, Sagarmala, and the National Logistics Policy. In fact, significant progress is evident in renewable energy adoption, port electrification, green shipping corridors, and multimodal freight infrastructure, large-scale adoption across the sector remains limited. The findings illuminate that while regulatory pressure and investments in renewable energy are driving progress, several challenges persist. The most significant barriers include non-uniform regulatory mechanism, technological dependence, data gaps, financial limitations, inadequate infrastructure, and the fragmented nature of the sector, all of which hinder large-scale adoption. Conclusion: The paper concludes that India has a strong policy foundation for green maritime logistics, but large-scale impact will depend on coordinated implementation, harmonised standards for EVs across different Indian states, initiatives to use escalated levels of shore power and fuels in shipping, interoperable freight and emissions data platforms to account for carbon foot print of various stakeholder in Indian maritime eco system, blended finance to foster green logistics practices and targeted support for small operators coupled with accelerated domestic green hydrogen, methanol, ammonia value chains. Further, grid upgrades and expanded renewable energy sources and mandatory, comparable emissions reporting for ports and corridors would lead to pertinent desirable outcomes. Customised initiatives meeting rational economic as well as environmental objectives of port based LSPs is the need of the hour. It is also found that scientific evidences in Indian context on the evaluation of government initiatives on green logistics practices in ports and more specifically on port based LSPs are scanty in nature. Therefore, future scientific endeavour may priorities India specific empirical work on such initiatives in terms of impact evaluations studies, firm-level cost benefit analyses of adapting green logistics practices, collaborative contracting designs to account for stakeholder perceptions on framing and adoption of customised green logistics practices for port based LSPs. Further, scientific studies on digital governance frameworks to generate actionable evidences for scalable, inclusive, low-carbon maritime logistics aligned with India’s Blue Economy and net-zero goals would lead to a better understanding of the initiatives and outcomes of green logistics initiatives of India.