The Hindu Business Line : Tobacco Board officials visit Chennai port, container terminals

OFFICIALS of the Tobacco Board and leading tobacco exporters from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, visited the Chennai port and the private container terminal to inspect the facilities.

Dr P. Dayachari, Chairman, Tobacco Board; Dr J. Suresh Babu, Executive Director, Tobacco Board, and Chi. Narendranath, President, The Indian Tobacco Association, were a part of the delegation, according to a press release issued by the Chennai Container Terminal (CCT).

Annually, around 8,000 containers of tobacco from Guntur, 400 km away, are shipped through the CCT.

The delegation inspected the facilities available at the port for tobacco containers. The team expressed happiness at the fumigation facilities at the CCT and watched a demonstration of the safety cage operation during the fumigation procedure. Exporters also had a seaside view of the terminal on a ride on board the Chennai Port Trust's tugboat `Sundarnar,' the release says.

Mr K. Suresh, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, made a presentation to the delegation on facilities available at ChPT and CCT and explained to the delegation that Chennai is the most cost-effective gateway port for tobacco exports.

He gave an overview of the port's plans, including that of creating additional infrastructure. These include four-laning of the approach road and creation of a dedicated overbridge for movement of containers to Chennai harbour.

The delegation, in its meeting with Mr S. Subramanian, Commissioner of Customs (Exports), and Mr S R Baruah, Additional Commissioner of Customs, requested the department to enable exporters to obtain self-sealing facility. The Commissioner agreed to look into the matter.