CHENNAI: Container trailer operators’ stir off

By G Saravanan

CHENNAI: With a three-hour long emergency meeting between the agitating truckers and Chennai Port management ending on a positive note on Thursday, container trailer operators called off their flash strike and resumed work by evening.

The port management also agreed to several suggestions put forward by the trailer association to minimise congestion on north Chennai roads.
Capt Subhash Kumar, chairman of Chennai Port Trust, told Express, “Based on the truckers’ main demand, we are opening two more entry points for loaded trailers at Gate No. 1 and all the Customs checks have been now moved out of the gate to container terminals.”

The truckers had claimed that Customs officials were taking more time than is the norm to clear incoming loaded container trailers at Gate No 1. The delay resulted in piling up of trailers on Kasimedu up to Ennore.

“In the meeting where all stakeholders, including the trailers union representatives and Customs participated, we discussed the issue in detail. The opening of two more entry points at Gate No. 1 would facilitate quicker entry of the trailers,” Capt Subhash said.

In other words, container trailers can now reach the terminals through three entry points. Port Trust officials are in talks with traffic authorities to open Gate No. 10 located near War Memorial for trailer traffic.

The Port Trust chairman further said that a vacant area of about five acres close to Gate No. 1 would be turned into a container trailer parking yard. This would help reduce trailer pile up on the main roads.

Under the new system agreed during the meeting, at Gate No. 1, CISF guards would check the pass and license of the driver.

S R Raja, president of Chennai Trailers Owners Association told Express that trucker operators were satisfied with the developments. According to Raja, after the decision to move Customs check on containers well inside the port premises, the road from Gate No. 1 up to the container terminal would accommodate more than 200 trailers.