The Hindu Business Line : KoPT moots plan to shift tea docking area

THE Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), in partnership with Container Corporation of India Ltd (Concor) and a few tea shippers, has initiated a move which, if it succeeds, will leave the Haldia dock complex without the tea export traffic now emanating from Amingaon inland container depot (ICD).

The essence of the arrangement being worked out is this: Concor will cart the tea traffic from Amingaon to Kolkata Dock System (KDS) for exports. At present, the entire volume is transported (by Concor) to Haldia.

But then the success of the proposed scheme will depend on convincing the shippers about the rationale of abandoning Haldia in favour of KDS. This may not be an easy decision for them as they are long used to sending their exports through Haldia. More importantly, at least three container lines, all foreign, namely, P&O, Maersk and APL, call only at Haldia. The shippers, therefore, must be amply rewarded with additional concessions and reliefs to make them agree to shift their operations from Haldia to KDS.

The Deputy Chairman of KoPT in charge of KDS recently held meetings with some tea shippers to explain to them the benefits of opting for KDS instead of Haldia.

Interestingly, Haldia dock is also under KoPT. The loss of traffic of one dock of the port will be the gain for the other dock system under the same port. Revenue wise, therefore, KoPT may not stand to gain much from the proposed scheme; in fact, as Haldia dock sources point out, it might lose out in the bargain.

The additional concessions and reliefs, which the tea shippers might demand for shifting their operation, will eat into the port trust's coffers. As it is, the port authorities have announced huge concessions in various charges to attract container traffic from the ICDs, not only located at Amingaon but all over the country.

If the Amingaon traffic is unloaded at KDS instead of Haldia, Concor, as sources point out, will be spared of the transportation of the empties and the flats over the stretch between Haldia and Kolkata. But then much would depend on the shippers.

"We are a mere carrier; we have to serve our customers wherever they want," the sources added.