The Hindu Business Line : Container Freight Station getting ready near Kochi

The Eloor facility has a total operational area of 10.24 acres and 90,000 sq ft of bonded warehousing facilities, the largest in India, with state-of-the-art facilities. Falcon is also completing an SEZ in Kerala.

N. A. MUHAMMED KUTTY, MD, FALCON INFRASTRUCTURE

V. Sajeev Kumar

Prospects are brightening for Kochi’s emergence as an International Maritime Hub with work on the Vallarpadom International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), gaining momentum. It is against this backdrop that Kerala’s first Inland Container Freight Station in the private sector has come up at Eloor near Kochi, close to the National Highway and main national rail network.

With the inauguration of this facility by the State Chief Minister slated for November 12, the Managing Director of Falcon Infrastructures Ltd, Mr N.A. Muhammed Kutty, spoke to Business Line on the prospects of container freight stations in India and the Eloor project in particular. Excerpts from the interview:

What facilities are being provided at the CFS and at what cost?

The facility at Eloor, set up at a cost of Rs 25 crore, has an operational area of 10.24 acres for stacking containers and cargo. It has a covered area of 44,515 sq.ft and 90,000 sq.ft of bonded warehousing facility, one of the largest in the country.

It is in close proximity to the proposed road and rail links to the Vallarpadom International Container Transhipment Terminal coming up at Kochi Port.

It offers state-of-the-art facilities for stuffing and de-stuffing operations. In-house customs clearance has also been sanctioned at the premises.

What are the ancillary facilities being provided apart from the normal container handling facilities?

The ancillary facilities include computerised documentation with EDI facility, high-level security with TV surveillance for covered as well as open area. Moreover, it is a part of Falcon’s existing integrated logistics support facility, which was one of the projects presented at the Global Investor Meet (GIM) organised by the Kerala Government a few years ago and among the very few that successfully took off.

This integrated facility has comprehensive infrastructure facilities, such as office space for users, exclusive weigh bridge, parking area for trucks, banking facilities and canteen and accommodation facilities.

Falcon’s was a pioneering effort in setting up this integrated logistics support facility in the country. How did you think of this concept and what factors make such a concept feasible?

It was thought of at a time when there was a hue and cry for a scientifically designed facility in Kochi for truck users and the logistic community, after the tragic accident at suburban Edappally, which occurred apparently due to negligent parking of trucks on the road side. This prompted me to think in terms of the project.

What are the volume and turnover projections of the CFS?

We are expecting a minimum annual turnover of Rs 10 crore. Initially, we hope to handle 1,200 TEUs a month. Once the Vallarpadom Transhipment Terminal becomes operational, the turnover and volume is expected to go up manifold.

What are Falcon’s future plans in logistics support and related fields?

We have active plans to set up similar facilities elsewhere in the country and want to popularise the concept of integrated logistics support facility. It has tremendous prospects as India is emerging a major international market place. We are also in an advanced stage of setting up a special economic zone in Kerala exclusively for the service sector. The idea is to set this up in an area of 250 acres. Some major national and international tie-ups for the same are in negotiation. Falcon is also planning to go public next year to mobilise Rs 500 crore for its diversification and expansion plans.

At the national level, what are the initiatives being planned by Falcon in the logistics field?

Falcon group is gearing for the challenges of tomorrow. Globalisation has thrown open opportunities hitherto unknown or untapped and there is a level playing field for all.

Competition has become stiffer and quality and cost-efficiency make the difference. In this backdrop, Falcon does not want to miss the bus and has a lot in the pipeline.

We are involved in bidding for multi-crore national infrastructure projects and negotiations are progressing with the Container Corporation of India and other national infrastructure development agencies.

We are also in the process of bidding for national contract for setting up and operating trans-border custom-bound check-posts and plans are under way to set up integrated logistics support facilities in major cities such as Hyderabad.

We also have already entered into an understanding with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for nationwide dealership network of IOC retail sales outlets under the “Company Owned Company Operated” scheme as well as to open new fuel retail sales outlets in different locations where IOC, at present, has no presence. This is mainly meant for the trucking community.

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