Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
India

Committed to boost container availability, reduce congestion at ports: Piyush Goyal

Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Sep, 2024 11:13 AM
  • Committed to boost container availability, reduce congestion at ports: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) The government is committed to improving the availability of containers, faster evacuation of export consignments, and reducing congestion at the ports, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said on Thursday.

Chairing an inter-ministerial meeting to address issues related to rising freight costs, shipping delays, shortage and non-availability of containers and congestion at the ports, the minister said the decisions taken by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Railways will result in successfully addressing these issues.

Minister Goyal said that the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has decided to allow empty containers to be stored for a period of 90 days in the yard at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) free of cost and has also slashed the loading and handling charges significantly.

JNPT Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh assured that steps have already been taken to eliminate any congestion and bottlenecks.

To enhance export-related processes, traffic delays near and around the JNPA will be minimised and simultaneous container scanning at the port will be implemented for faster clearances and reduced turnaround time.

According to Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, the charges of Rs 3,000 that are being levied beyond 90 days, are now reduced to Rs 1,500. Further, the storage and handling rates will be reduced for containers from Rs 9,000 to Rs 2,000 (for a 40-feet container) and from Rs 6,000 to Rs 1,000 (for a 20-feet container).

The Commerce Minister urged all stakeholders to make concerted efforts to significantly mitigate the difficulties and address the issues faced by the exporters. Goyal emphasised that due to the current geopolitical tensions, Red Sea Crisis, Houthi operations, ongoing wars and its impact on international trade, there was a need to engage with a multidisciplinary team.

During the meeting, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) announced that on an immediate basis, capacity will be enhanced by 9,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The SCI will also buy an additional five container ships to further enhance cargo handling capacity. The shipping lines assured that all charges like container transportation and Lift on-Lift off at yards would be embedded in the delivery order given to shippers.

According to Secretary, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shipping, T.K. Ramachandran, the port capacities have already been enhanced by 2.3 million TEUs. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam announced that all efforts will be taken to ensure faster movement of air cargo and reduce turnover time. The stakeholders in the meeting also decided to set up a multidisciplinary help desk to support exporters.

MORE India ARTICLES

6 killed, 48 hurt after triple explosions and fire rock Thane chemical factory

6 killed, 48 hurt after triple explosions and fire rock Thane chemical factory
At least six persons were killed and 48 others were injured after three powerful explosions followed by a massive fire engulfed a chemical factory located in the MIDC complex at Dombivali in Thane district on Thursday afternoon. The triple explosions at quick intervals were so huge that they shook nearby homes, and shattered windowpanes as terrified locals rushed onto the street. The sound of the explosions could be heard from several kilometres away, locals said.

6 killed, 48 hurt after triple explosions and fire rock Thane chemical factory

Patiala is lucky as PM Modi will start Punjab poll campaign from the city: Preneet Kaur

Patiala is lucky as PM Modi will start Punjab poll campaign from the city: Preneet Kaur
Expressing happiness and confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab's Patiala on Thursday, BJP candidate from here, Preneet Kaur, said: "Patiala is so lucky that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is going to start the election rallies in Punjab from the historic district of Patiala." Kaur shared her happiness during an interaction with the media on Wednesday and said PM Modi's agenda is of a developed India.

Patiala is lucky as PM Modi will start Punjab poll campaign from the city: Preneet Kaur

Swati Maliwal assault case: Bibhav Kumar taken to Mumbai by Delhi Police

Swati Maliwal assault case: Bibhav Kumar taken to Mumbai by Delhi Police
Delhi Police on Tuesday took Bibhav Kumar, the former personal secretary of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Mumbai in connection with the assault on AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, police official privy to the probe said.

Swati Maliwal assault case: Bibhav Kumar taken to Mumbai by Delhi Police

Met officials warn of severe heat wave in Rajasthan, mercury may hit 48-degree Celsius in some parts

Met officials warn of severe heat wave in Rajasthan, mercury may hit 48-degree Celsius in some parts
As Rajasthan continues to reel under an intense heat wave, the maximum temperature breached the 45-degree Celsius mark in many parts of the state in the last 24 hours. Pilani recorded the highest temperature at 46.6-degree Celsius, followed by Ganganagar (46.3) Barmer (46.1), Phalodi (46), Dholpur (45.9), and Kota (45.8).

Met officials warn of severe heat wave in Rajasthan, mercury may hit 48-degree Celsius in some parts

Disguised as chole bhature seller, wanted criminal nabbed from UP

Disguised as chole bhature seller, wanted criminal nabbed from UP
A man absconding for the past 20 years in connection with the abduction and murder of a Delhi-based businessman for ransom was arrested from near the Ramlila Maidan in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, where he was selling chole bhature after changing his identity, Delhi Police said on Tuesday. An official of Delhi Police's Crime Branch said that to track the movement of Sipahi Lal a.k.a Gurdayal, ASI Sonu Nain posed as a mango seller and put up a 'rehri' near the Ramlila Maidan in Mainpuri.  

Disguised as chole bhature seller, wanted criminal nabbed from UP

Delhi HC dismisses Sisodia's bail pleas in excise policy cases by CBI and ED

Delhi HC dismisses Sisodia's bail pleas in excise policy cases by CBI  and ED
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday denied bail to AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the alleged excise policy scam cases. A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that the applicant failed to pass the triple test for grant of bail in the corruption case and the twin conditions required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Delhi HC dismisses Sisodia's bail pleas in excise policy cases by CBI and ED