NAVI MUMBAI: Shri Rajive Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, visited Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on Monday 23rd January 2017 along with key officials to meet with stakeholders of JNPT to discuss and suggest recommendations on the progress made in reducing the cost and Dwell-time of cargo clearance in JN Port.
He was welcomed by Shri Anil Diggikar, IAS, Chairman, JNPT & Shri Neeraj Bansal, IRS, Dy Chairman, JNPT at the Headquarters of the Port, joined by officials from Concor, Customs, Terminals, Railways, Export-Import trade bodies and Government bodies.
In his inaugural speech to all members at the conference room, held at JNPT-Antwerp World Port Training Centre, Shri Kumar apprised about the rising opportunities out of ports in India and the expectations of the Government of India from Major Ports like JNPT, which is India’s No. 1 Container Port. Drawing a cutting-edge advantage of JNPT, being located at the prime area of Western Coast, he hoped for predictable solutions that can transform the operations of the Port in order to extend benefits to Export-Import trade, and thereby lifting the economic factors.
He was joined by Ms Malini Shankar, DG, Shipping; Dr John Joseph, Chief Commissioner, Customs and Shri Anil Diggikar on the panel to address the members.
In over two-hour long discussion, a range of subjects were discussed which were primarily focusing towards reducing the Import and Export Dwell time in order to bring down the cost for Export-Import trade. While members from various trade bodies – CSLA, MANSA, FIEO – suggested respective solutions for boosting operational efficiency at the port gates & premises, Shri Kumar appreciated the spirit of togetherness for a common goal.
Presenting some of the recent achievements, Shri Bansal factored the long-term planning and technological advancement at the Port that enabled users more benefit ranging from cost reduction, time saving, speedy clearance, decongestion and paperless operations.
Some of them includes – direct port entry to factory stuffed containers has resulted into increase up to 74% after commencement of operations at holding yard, transit time from Y junction to terminal gate reduced by average 3 hrs, installing CCTV cameras for Live footage, no-checking of container seals by CISF for entry time at the gates for each trailer. Direct Port Delivery (DPD), which is a successful model in the world over, is largely promoted by JNPT in association with Customs to bring down the import-dwell time and enhance importers’ trade opportunities through reducing cost and time.
