Thesis Advisor- Dr. Paulose N. Kuriakose  

Thesis Topic -Identifying Critical Determinants Influencing Stakeholder Willingness to Adopt Urban Freight Consolidation Centres (UCC) within the Logistics Ecosystem of Indian Cities 

Thesis Details    

Urban freight systems in Indian cities are increasingly strained by the rapid growth of e-commerce, fragmented deliveries, and rising consumer demand. This has resulted in severe congestion, air pollution, and inefficiencies in last-mile logistics. Globally, Urban Consolidation Centres (UCCs) have emerged as an effective solution, centralizing goods movement to reduce vehicular trips, enable cleaner deliveries, and improve coordination. However, despite their proven benefits internationally, UCCs have not been widely adopted in Indian cities. The key barrier lies in stakeholder willingness. Logistics actors such as e-commerce platforms, third-party logistics providers (3PLs), FMCG suppliers, and FMCD distributors operate under cost-sensitive, time-critical, and competitive conditions. Shared facilities may be seen as risky, inefficient, or misaligned with their supply chain models. This

research investigates the critical determinants shaping stakeholder willingness to adopt UCCs, focusing on factors such as cost sensitivity, delivery flexibility, infrastructure access, regulatory incentives, and perceived reliability. The findings will inform transport planning policies, guide pilot projects, and position UCCs as scalable, climate-responsive strategies for sustainable urban freight systems in India.