The Hindu Business Line : DP World to help in moving cargo by road to Kochi port

Advertisement

Kochi March 6 To alleviate the problems faced by shippers for ICD (inland container depot) movement to Kochi port due to stoppage of rail traffic, container terminal operator DP World has made arrangements at the Ernakulam Marshalling Yard for transferring the ICD cargo to the port by road.

Steps in this regard have been taken in association with the port authorities, Concor and Southern Railway to ensure smooth movement of ICD cargo till the restoration of traffic at Venduruthy Bridge, connecting the port to the mainland, which was hit by a dredger causing damage to the structure.

Mr Suresh Joseph, General Manager, DP World, told Business Line that

container trains would run from ICD Whitefield to Ernakulam Marshalling Yard and from there they will be moved to the port by trailers provided by DP World. Though there is an additional cost involvement because of road transportation of containers, shippers do not have to pay any extra cost in this regard, he said.

According to Mr Joseph, the Southern Railway has agreed to dedicate one line for handling the container trains by suspending the overhead equipment temporarily and isolating the electric tractions in the Marshalling Yard. It was also decided to deploy reach stackers there to handle containers and other container handling equipment to facilitate smooth handling of boxes on the dedicated line.

As far as shippers are concerned, the movement is seamless with no additional cost input.

The introduction of such additional facilities would also provide support to the shippers, who have started supporting the arrival of mainline vessels to the port. Once this facility is provided, Mr Joseph hoped that the ICD traffic is expected to shoot up and it is anticipated that around 400 containers would move to Kochi in a month from Whitefield.