The Hindu Business Line : Concor now runs empty containers from JNPT, NSICT

IN sharp contrast to the usual trend of container shortage that Concor (Container Corporation of India Ltd) faces, the corporation has been running empty containers from JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) and NSICT (Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal Ltd) in Mumbai over the past few months. Eighty per cent of Concor's traffic is for the JNPT/NSCIT terminals.

"During the past three months, we have run empty rakes and empty wagons for want of matching containers from JNPT and NSICT in Mumbai. On a cumulative basis, about 6,500 empty wagons have been transported from JNPT and NSICT," said a senior Concor official.

It may be explained that each rake or train usually has 45 wagons and each wagon can carry two TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containers.

While empty wagons mean extra capacity available for users, it also means that Concor lost out on revenues for transporting 13,000 empty containers.

This is of import also because Concor has started paying out haulage charges to the Railways for running empty wagons for the first time since November 1 this year.

Concor pays haulage charges to the Railways for using its railway track and signalling system.

The decongestion can be attributed to the increase in wagon fleet of Concor, among other things.

The corporation has increased its container fleet over the past few months.

"From about 69 high speed rakes that Concor had in April this year, the organisation has increased its fleet by about 22 per cent, owning about 84 high-speed rakes as on December 1 this year," said the official. Moreover, by April 1, 2005, Concor hopes to have 104 high-speed rakes.

The excess capacity of terminals could also be attributed to two other reasons, point out experts. "The restriction on unloading of scrap was imposed from September which has resulted in a fall in scrap traffic," said an official source.

"Moreover, following acute road congestion from Mumbai ports, many imports were diverted to nearby ports of Mundra and Pipavav," he said.

In fact, Concor's rake flows to nearby ports such as Mundra and Pipavav have also shot up during the period.

"Concor now runs a total of 2.8 rakes or 252 containers per day to/from Mundra and Pipavav as compared to about 1.8 rakes a day a few months ago," the official informed.