India is working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop a grading and rating framework for warehouses and cold-chain facilities, aimed at improving infrastructure standards and strengthening the country’s logistics ecosystem.
The proposed framework is expected to establish common parameters for assessing the quality, efficiency and performance of warehouses and temperature-controlled storage facilities. A standardised rating system could help businesses and investors identify facilities based on their infrastructure and operational capabilities.
The initiative is particularly relevant to sectors such as agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals and other industries that depend on reliable storage and temperature-controlled logistics. Better assessment standards could encourage investment in modern warehousing and cold-chain infrastructure.
India has been expanding its logistics infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce supply-chain costs and improve the movement and storage of goods. Warehousing and cold-chain facilities are important components of this effort, particularly as organised logistics networks expand across the country.
The proposed grading mechanism could also improve transparency in the sector by providing users with comparable information on warehouse facilities. It may encourage operators to upgrade infrastructure, adopt modern technologies and improve operational practices.
Collaboration with the ADB is expected to support the development of a framework aligned with international practices while taking into account India’s specific logistics requirements.
Once implemented, the rating system could provide a structured basis for evaluating warehouses and cold chains and help channel investment towards higher-quality logistics infrastructure.