NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, on July 7, 2026, to drive the digital transformation of the state’s logistics ecosystem through the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). The collaboration aims to enhance logistics visibility, improve operational efficiency, and enable data-driven decision-making across Punjab’s supply chain. A ULIP workshop for senior officials from key state departments followed the signing to identify Punjab-specific use cases.
What Is the Unified Logistics Interface Platform?
ULIP is a digital gateway that provides industry players with API-based access to logistics-related datasets from multiple government systems. It was launched on September 17, 2022, as a key initiative under the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and is aligned with the vision of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
The platform currently integrates 46 digital systems across 12 Central Ministries and Departments through 142 APIs, covering more than 2,000 data fields. It has enabled the development of more than 260 applications and facilitated over 450 crore API transactions, reflecting its scale and reliability.
The three core components of ULIP are: integration with existing data sources of ministries, data exchange with private players, and a unified document reference for the entire supply chain. Systems integrated with ULIP include the Vahan and Sarathi databases from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the PORT Community System from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the FOIS freight system from the Ministry of Railways, and the ICEGATE customs system from the Ministry of Finance, among others.
NLDSL and Its Role in India’s Digital Logistics
NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL) is a joint venture between the Government of India, represented by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT), and the Japanese IT firm NEC Corporation, with equal equity participation of 50:50. The company was incorporated on December 30, 2015, and is headquartered in New Delhi.
NLDSL operates two flagship products. The Logistics Data Bank (LDB) provides near real-time tracking of EXIM (export-import) container movements across India using RFID technology. Launched in 2016, LDB has tracked over 98 million containers, covering 19 ports, 32 port terminals, and over 450 container freight stations and inland container depots. The second product is ULIP, which serves as the data integration backbone for the country’s logistics ecosystem.
The company also offers other digital platforms such as Koyla Shakti, a smart coal analytics dashboard; Track Your Transport (TYT) for vehicle and cargo visibility; a Transport Management System (TMS); and the Logistics e-Marketplace (LeMP). Together, these platforms support asset tracking, operational planning, inter-agency coordination, and evidence-based decision-making.
Why Punjab’s Logistics Ecosystem Needs Digital Transformation
Punjab is one of India’s most important agricultural and industrial states. It is known as the breadbasket of India and accounts for a major share of the country’s food grain production. The state is also a manufacturing powerhouse, producing 95% of India’s woollen knitwear, 85% of its sewing machines, and 75% of its sports goods. Its proximity to the national capital and its border location with Pakistan give it a strategic position in India’s trade network.
Despite these strengths, Punjab’s logistics sector faces several challenges. The state has an extensive road network of over 1.39 lakh kilometres and a railway network of more than 2,269 kilometres, but issues such as poor last-mile connectivity, uneven road quality, lack of adequate cold storage facilities, and inefficient use of multiple transport modes drive up logistics costs. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) passes through Punjab, and the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) is expected to transform industrial hubs like Ludhiana, Rajpura, and Sahnewal. However, the full potential of these infrastructure investments can be realised only when supported by a robust digital backbone.
Digital integration through ULIP can help Punjab address these gaps by enabling seamless data exchange between state departments such as Transport, Warehousing, Food and Civil Supplies, Public Works, and Civil Aviation. Real-time visibility into cargo movement, better coordination across agencies, and data-driven policy decisions can significantly lower turnaround times and reduce logistics costs for businesses operating in the state.
What the MoU Entails
The MoU was signed in the presence of Punjab’s Minister of Industries and Commerce, Shri Aman Arora. The signatories were Shri Takayuki Kano, Chief Executive Officer of NLDSL, and Shri Jaspreet Singh, IAS, Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab. Shri Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, IAS, Administrative Secretary of Industries and Commerce, was also present. The initiative is being implemented under the guidance of Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, IAS, CEO and MD of NICDC and Chairman of NLDSL.
Under the agreement, NLDSL will support the Punjab government in building a digitally connected logistics ecosystem by enabling seamless data exchange across state departments through ULIP. The partnership focuses on four key outcomes: improving transparency in logistics operations, enabling faster policy and operational decision-making, enhancing overall logistics efficiency, and strengthening Punjab’s competitiveness as a manufacturing, agricultural, and export hub.
Following the signing, NLDSL conducted a ULIP workshop for senior officials from key Punjab departments, including Transport, Warehousing, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, the Public Works Department, and Civil Aviation. The workshop focused on identifying state-specific use cases to address Punjab’s logistics challenges, improve supply chain visibility, and support ease of doing business. NLDSL also showcased its other digital platforms, including LDB, Koyla Shakti, TYT, TMS, and LeMP, demonstrating how integrated logistics data can support evidence-based decision-making and inter-agency coordination.
The Bigger Picture: National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti
The Punjab MoU is part of a larger national push to transform India’s logistics sector. The National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched on September 17, 2022, with the target of reducing India’s logistics cost from 13-14% of GDP to global benchmarks of around 8-9% by 2030. A companion goal is to improve India’s ranking in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) to the top 25 by 2030, from its current position of 38th in 2023.
The NLP is complemented by the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched on October 13, 2021, which adopts a whole-of-government approach to infrastructure planning. PM Gati Shakti integrates projects across seven engines: railways, roads, ports, waterways, airports, mass transport, and logistics infrastructure, using a GIS-based digital platform developed by BISAG-N.
NLDSL’s parent organisation, NICDC, is itself implementing several large-scale infrastructure initiatives. These include the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), which aims to develop 100 investment-ready industrial parks with an outlay of ₹33,660 crore; the PM MITRA Mega Textile Parks scheme; and the India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) .
NLDSL has signed similar MoUs with other states, including an agreement with the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) in June 2026 to develop the Gujarat Logistics Dashboard, and an MoU with the Ministry of MSME in April 2026. These partnerships reflect a growing recognition that state-level digital integration is essential to achieving the national vision of a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective logistics ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- NLDSL, a joint venture between NICDIT and Japan’s NEC Corporation, signed an MoU with the Punjab government on July 7, 2026 to digitally transform the state’s logistics through ULIP.
- ULIP currently integrates 46 digital systems across 12 ministries through 142 APIs, covering over 2,000 data fields and processing more than 450 crore API transactions.
- The National Logistics Policy (NLP) , launched on September 17, 2022, targets reducing India’s logistics cost from 13-14% of GDP to 8-9% by 2030.
- The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched on October 13, 2021, provides the overarching infrastructure coordination framework for initiatives like ULIP.
- Punjab produces 95% of India’s woollen knitwear, 85% of its sewing machines, and 75% of its sports goods, making logistics efficiency critical for its export competitiveness.
