The Hindu Business Line : JNPT congestion: NSICT may restrict import boxes

THE P&O-operated Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which continues to smart under acute congestion problem, is likely to initiate measures to restrict import containers for some time to make room at the terminal for export boxes.

In fact, sources said, NSICT is under pressure from the 20-member taskforce, constituted by the Commerce Ministry to suggest measures to decongest the port and to implement this measure in consultation with the shipping lines within a week.

According to the sources, some members of the taskforce, which is headed by the JNPT Chairman, Mr Ravi Budhiraja, feel there is an urgent need to restrict the flow of import containers by serving advance notice to the importers. It is, however, argued that it would not be possible to impose complete stoppage on handling of import containers for a period of two weeks, since it will adversely affect the country's foreign trade.

With the Engineering Export Promotion Council suggesting that import containers meant for the North be handled either at Visakhapatnam or Kolkata ports, the taskforce has decided that NSICT should take immediate action to "restrict" import containers at the earliest, the sources said.

Another step that the taskforce has suggested involves reducing free period given to consignees by CFS (container freight station) operators and shipping lines.

This proposal was made in light of the fact that a majority of the import boxes lying at various CFSs around JNPT for longer periods contain low-value cargoes, such as waste paper and plastic materials. On the other hand, high-value items such as chemicals and machinery are cleared quickly.

"About 40 per cent of such containers (having high-value items) are getting cleared within five days after reaching the CFSs, while the rest is cleared in 15 to 20 days. Thus, the tendency to keep such containers un-cleared for longer periods should be discouraged. Hence, the free period being given for clearing of containers by CFS operators should be curtailed," a trade source told Business Line.

The taskforce has asked CFS operators and shipping lines to make a detailed analysis regarding the nature of un-cleared import boxes at the terminal, after which a decision to reduce the free period will be taken.

Further, after the analysis, a decision on increasing the ground rent chargers for containers lying more than three days at the CFSs is also likely to be taken, the sources said.

The taskforce has further decided that the Central Warehousing Corporation should make available space for movement of about 4,500 TEUs from NSICT to JNPT's CFS. NSICT has been asked to make necessary arrangements for movement of the "long-standing import containers" to JNPT's CFS at the earliest.

Meanwhile, NSICT has requested that in order to facilitate faster evacuation of ICD traffic from the terminal, one rail line at JNPT could be allotted exclusively for back loading of its ICD containers for a period of one month.

The sources said the port has agreed to this and has also promised to deploy adequate number of Reach Stackers for loading such containers on rakes.