The Hindu Business Line : Plea for more feeder lines from New Mangalore Port

THE interactive meeting of the Mangalore Custom House Agents' Association has stressed on the need for attracting more hinterland cargo to New Mangalore Port. At present, various other ports such as Chennai, Tuticorin and Kochi are attracting considerable number of cargoes from Karnataka.

Some of the options suggested included the operation of more feeder lines for container cargo from Mangalore and the early commissioning of the railway line between Bangalore and Mangalore.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mr A. Srinivasa Rao, said that there is a need for more feeder lines from New Mangalore Port, as the container cargoes are likely to increase in future. Many exporters in Dharwad and Davangere in Karnataka are interested in bringing container cargoes to New Mangalore. "We will ask for more feeder lines to operate from New Mangalore Port," he said.

While one of the members suggested that the early commissioning of the railway line between Bangalore and Mangalore will help attract more cargo.

Custodianship of cargo: Ms Jasdeep V. Singh, Commissioner of Customs, Mangalore, said the port and the customhouse are the two important pillars of export and import activities.

Except for New Mangalore Port, in all other major ports the custodianship of the cargo has been assigned either to the port itself or to any other authorised agency.

Stating that the New Mangalore Port cannot lag behind in assuming the custodianship, Ms Singh said she is in talks with the Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust in this regard.

The Traffic Manager of New Mangalore Port, Mr Gopalakrishna, said there were some procedures laid down in the initial stages of the port's establishment. The changeover from that system to the new system will take some time.

Mr Rao, who is also one of the trustees on the board of NMPT, said that this issue could be discussed at NMPT's next board meeting.

SEZ: Mr Rao said that the NMPT board has given `in-principle' approval for the joining the special purpose vehicle for the formation of Mangalore Special Economic Zone. However, the Union Shipping Ministry has to give its approval in this matter.

The KCCI will request the NMPT to set up the cruise lounge in the proposed SEZ, he said.

Dr John Joseph, Commissioner of Central Excise, Mangalore, said that Mangalore has been witnessing a growth in manufacturing and service sectors. New Mangalore Port is a potential location to widen the service tax base in the area, he said.

Mr Gopalakrishna said the port has witnessed a growth of 27 per cent in the last fiscal compared to the previous year. To cater to the needs of the users, the port is strengthening and developing its infrastructure.