KOCHI: The country's first International Container Transhipment Terminal project at Vallarpadam in Kerala turning out to be a major hub for cargo. Set up at a cost of more than Rs 1,600 crore, the Vallarpadam container facility for transhipment is the first of its kind in the country.
According to a release issued by Prime Minister's Office, the project will help reducing the number of days taken to export or import consignments by seven days apart from cutting down the transportation cost of each container by US 300 dollar.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has directed different departments to ensure that procedural issues do not come in the way of the country's first International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam becoming a global cargo hub.
The facility will give a boost to international Indian trade making it more competitive.
Currently Indian importers and exporters use Colombo, Salalah, Singapore and Dubai hubs for shipments adding to their costs. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary
Mr. Pulok Chatterjee chaired a meeting with officials from the departments of Revenue, Commerce and Shipping. They have been asked to ensure that procedural issues do not come in the way of the implementation of this project. It was felt that if a user-friendly environment is provided, then the transhipment cargo is likely to go up to over 80 per cent. In the meeting it was also decided that the Department of Commerce and Ministry of Shipping will make all efforts to ensure that the first Container Freight Station (CFS) is operational by March this year and other 3 proposed such stations should be commissioned shortly.
The Department of Revenue will prepare within two weeks a proposal to provide Customs officers to work on deputation to the SEZ.
Shipping Secretary Mr. K Mohandas has confirmed that initiatives have been launched at the level of the Prime Minister's Office to resolve the row over customs inspection of the cargo being handled at the port, by February 15.
The Prime Minister's Office has directed the officials of the Ministries of Commerce, finance and shipping to come up with suggestions to resolve the row over customs inspection of the cargo being handled at the port by February 15.
