As Indian cities compete on various parameters such as Swacch Survekshan, Ease of Living, Municipal Performance Index, etc., they do not always consider the impact of growth on their ability to move goods effectively. More people and commercial activity increase the demand for goods and services while at the same time increasing competition for scarce road and sidewalk space. Cities are also struggling with underinvestment and aging infrastructure. Additionally, freight transport demand is expected to triple and its associated emissions to more than double by 2050 compared to the 2015 levels if left unchecked.
The German Federal Ministry supported the EcoLogistics project (2017-2021) for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), involving nine cities in Argentina, Colombia, and India.