The Hindu Business Line : Concor to transport wagons to Nepal

THE Container Corporation of India (Concor) has initiated move for transportation of wagons (BCN type) between Kolkata port (including Haldia dock) and the newly commissioned inland container depot located at Sirsiya near Birgunge, a major business hub of Nepal.

However, the wagons must carry imports from and exports to countries other than India (i.e. third country trade).

Right now these wagons can go up to Raxaul, the last Indian railway point close to the India-Nepal border; only containers (also carrying third country cargoes) can move beyond Raxaul into the Nepalese territory. Indian Railways constructed the rail line between Raxaul and Sirsiya some time ago.

If the present effort of Concor succeeds, then, in addition to containers, the wagons containing imports from the third country and routed through Kolkata port too will move right up to the Sirsiya ICD inside Nepal thus giving a boost to the volume of traffic on the route. However, for this to succeed, certain Customs procedures, on both sides of the border, have to be in place. The authorities concerned on both sides are believed to be working on it.

According to an estimate, there is a cargo inducement of about 16,000 to 20,000 tonnes, equivalent of 10 to 12 rakes of BCN wagons, a month and the items will include edible oil, fertilizers, food grains and steel, all third country imports routed through Kolkata port.

Asked if an ICD would be well suited also for handling wagons and break-bulk items, Concor sources replied that the one at Sirsiya was not an ICD in the strict sense; it was more of an inland clearance depot, a composite terminal, complete with facilities for handling all kinds of traffic, bulk, break-bulk and containers, and a warehouse measuring 100,000 sq ft.

In the middle-of July, Nepal threw open its border to rail-borne container traffic imported from and exported to countries other than India. India provides the transit facility. In July three rakes carrying 199 TEUs, all imports, were moved on the route. The throughput jumped to 301 TEUs (six rakes - five through Kolkata dock system and one through Haldia dock) in August.

The figure in September, it is estimated, is likely to rise to 400 TEUs in seven rakes, all routed through KDS.

The volume of traffic can increase many times more if the route is thrown open also to bilateral trade, i.e., imports and exports between India and Nepal. However, for such a thing to happen, a review of the rail services agreement signed between the two countries last year will be first needed.

Concor, it is learnt, has urged the authorities concerned in both the countries for holding the review meeting at the earliest.

More Stories on : Supply Chain Management | Railways

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Indian killed in Dubai airport project mishap

SriLankan plans first direct air links thru 3 SAARC countries

Directive to cut vessel-related charges — Chennai Port seeks clarification from Ministry

Concor to transport wagons to Nepal

Concor may source 1,000 wagons from Railway workshops

Baalu inaugurates Nellore bypass