Blue Dart to increase warehousing capacity

Indian express-courier and distribution company Blue Dart, in which global logistics major DHL holds a majority stake, is to double its warehousing capacity to 2 million square feet in the next two years.

The company is also planning to add 120 facilities "" offices and service centres "" and has earmarked a capital expenditure of Rs 200 crore for the calendar year.

"We are expecting a substantial increase in business in the next few years and need to have the necessary infrastructure in place. This is part of our ambitious growth plans in the country," Blue Dart General Manager (marketing) Ketan Kulkarni said.

Kulkarni, however, did not divulge the investments being made for doubling the capacity. He said the company was planning to invest Rs 1,000 crore in five-eight years to ramp up its warehousing capacity from the present 1 million square feet. Currently, Blue Dart has 257 facilities in the country.

The courier major would also look at inducting a new Boeing 757 into its fleet by the end of this year, but this would depend on the growth of business in the country.

The company currently operates seven aircraft "" three Boeing 757s and four Boeing 737s "" in the country.

The company handled 191,875 tonnes in calendar year 2007 and expects these initiatives to increase its business in the country. It enjoyed revenues of Rs 811.8 crore and had a market share of 41.7 per cent in the country last year.

DHL holds a 81.03 per cent stake in Blue Dart, a listed company in India. Through the alliance with the global logistics major, Blue Dart services over 220 countries.