Logistics Data Bank crosses 10 crore container tracking milestone

The Logistics Data Bank (LDB), a government platform that tracks the movement of import and export containers across India, has crossed the 10 crore container tracking milestone since its launch in 2016, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced.

The platform uses radio frequency identification tags, commonly known as RFID, to monitor containers as they move through ports, railways, highways and industrial zones. It provides near real-time visibility of container locations to shipping companies, logistics providers and exporters.

Piyush Goyal, Union minister for Commerce and Industry, said the milestone reflected progress in India’s logistics infrastructure. “Technology is helping us make logistics simpler, faster and more efficient, while improving the competitiveness of Indian industry,” he said.

The minister added that efficient logistics would be central to strengthening manufacturing and expanding India’s presence in global markets.

Logistics Data Bank network coverage

The Logistics Data Bank currently covers 19 ports and 32 container terminals handling India’s maritime trade. Its tracking network extends to 103 inland container depots, where goods are consolidated before reaching ports, and 439 container freight stations used for customs clearance and cargo handling.

The platform also monitors container movement across 89 manufacturing special economic zones, 5,569 railway stations, 269 toll plazas and three integrated check posts at India’s land borders.

The system provides analytics on dwell time, which measures how long a container sits idle at a location, and transit time between points. This data helps identify bottlenecks in the supply chain.

Platform expansion

LDB 2.0, launched by Goyal in September 2025, expanded the platform’s capabilities beyond domestic tracking. The upgraded version enables high-seas tracking of Indian export containers and provides visibility across multiple transport modes, including road, rail and sea.

The platform uses a combination of RFID, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, big data analytics and cloud computing to process container movement data. It receives an average of 1.5 crore container search queries every month from users accessing the service through its web portal.

The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index has recognised LDB’s role in improving India’s logistics efficiency. India’s ranking on the index has improved in recent years as the country has invested in digitising its logistics infrastructure.

Rajat Kumar Saini, chief executive officer and managing director of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), said the platform had evolved from a container visibility tool into a significant digital infrastructure for the logistics sector.

“This achievement has been possible through the continued cooperation of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, ports, terminals, container freight stations, inland container depots and our other stakeholders,” Saini said.

He added that the organisation would focus on strengthening the platform through analytics and new technologies.

NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL), which operates the Logistics Data Bank, was established on 30 December 2015 as a joint venture between the government, represented by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust, and Japanese technology company NEC Corporation.

NLDSL also operates the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, another government initiative aimed at improving coordination between different logistics service providers.

Save article