Tata's DIESL eyes $ 90 bn logistics space

Tata Group's logistics arm, DIESL said it has embarked on an expansion drive to emerge as the market leader in USD 90 billion domestic supply-chain industry and would consolidate its presence in the retail segment by 2012. It also plans setting up nine major hubs in the country by 2013 to provide logistics, transportation, warehousing, distribution among other services.

"We are among top four players in the domestic logistic industry and aim to occupy the top slot by 2015. We have added 1 million square feet in 2010 taking the total area of our 176 warehouses to 5.3 million square feet and would set up nine hubs in next 30 months," (DIESL) CEO Ajay Chopra said.

Drive India Enterprise Solutions Ltd (DIESL), a joint venture between Tata Industries and Tata International will set up five hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati in the next 18 months. Remaining four will be set up at other strategic locations by 2013, adding that the company is also focussed on bulk logistics in the eastern and north-eastern region, setting facilities for cement and steel production.

Besides consolidating its domestic presence, DIESL may plan looking at overseas markets, especially in the South East Asian countries like Singapore, under Noel Tata who has taken over Chairman of DIESL, Chopra said.