CONCOR Solution to Trailer Congestion at Chennai Port

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/epaper/ dtd June 27, 2012


If the proposal by the Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) Southern Region to evacuate both export and import TEUs from Chennai Port to CONCOR’s new inland container depot (ICD) at Tondiarpet (about 10 km distance from port) receives a strong support from the trade, it would certainly save the historical port in the east coast of India from perishing in the perennial problem of congestion.

Making a presentation about CONCOR’s plans for shipping trade during the one-day National Conclave on Shipping, organized by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), in Chennai on June 18, Mr V Kalyana Rama, Chief General Manager, South Central Region, announced that CONCOR has planned to introduce daily service to Chennai Port to evacuate and also to move in containerized cargo.
“We are presenting a solution to the perennial congestion problems in the Chennai Port, which is affecting the trade at large and movement of containers in rail-line would certainly reduce trailer traffic to and from the port,” Mr Kalyana Rama said.
He also announced that CONCOR has fixed a tariff of Rs 6500 per TEU, which includes the terminal handling charges (THC) at both ends.
Further elaborating the top official’s announcement for the EXIM trade to Sagar Sandesh, Mr N Sreekumar, Group General Manager (C&O), CONCOR-Southern Region, said, “Under the proposal, which is cost effective too when compared to moving containers on road using trailer lorries, we are planning to run three services to the Chennai Port everyday and with it, we would be able to evacuate about 540 TEUs at both ends.”


The necessary clearance from the Chennai Customs has been obtained for the CONCOR’s Tondiarpet ICD facility and we are ready to provide a sustainable as well as concrete solution to the congestion, which is affecting the Chennai Port’s business, said Mr Sreekumar.
Commissioned in January 1992 as CONCOR’S Container Freight Station at Tondiarpet, the facility was recently rechristened as inland container depot (ICD) to cater more ports in the east as well as in the west coast.
Well connected by road and rail, the ICD is spread over 75 acres and is the nearest such facility from the gateway Port of Chennai on the northeast side. It has a full length rail siding with a holding capacity of 65 wagons.
“We are in contact with all the port users as well as the different trade bodies that comprise various EXIM traders in the region. If we receive good support from the trade and trade volumes go up, CONCOR would certainly increase its services to the Chennai Port in the near future,” Mr Sreekumar added.
For the EXIM traders’ community, the new service by CONCOR has come as a blessing during the upcoming peak export season.
Speaking to Sagar Sandesh, Mr A Shunmugam, a Chennai-based small-time exporter, said, “The service proposed by CONCOR would be a great boon for us like exporters, who most of the times ends up with paying more for transportation of containers through trailer lorries owing to congestion and waiting time at the Chennai Port.”
According to rough estimate, more than 15 lakh containers move in and out of Chennai Port every year and if the CONCOR’s new services receive good support from the trade, it would certainly reduce pressure on trailers to evacuate all TEUs on road.
CONCOR ANNOUNCEMENT:
Krishnapatnam Port: Three services a day
Chennai Port: Daily
Vallarpadam Port: Bi-weekly
Karaikal Port: Weekly