The Hindu Business Line : Falcon plans free-trade warehousing zone

Kochi, May 2 Falcon Infrastructures Ltd, which had set up its first private full-fledged inland container freight station at Kalammassery, is also planning to set up a Free Trade Warehousing Zone.

Negotiations are in an advanced stage for setting up the project in association with the State Government and some leading private and public enterprises, Mr N.K. Mohammed Kutty, Managing Director, Falcon Infrastructures, said. The Rs 200-crore project is coming up in area of 100 acres of land near here and the company is also planning an IPO for the purpose, he added.

More Free Trade Warehousing Zones and SEZs would be required in the State before the commissioning of the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal of the Cochin Port Trust by the end of 2009, he said.

He pointed out that the fledgling logistics industry in the State, which is currently on the threshold of a major take-off in industrial development, is currently facing challenging times. However, the government should take the initiative to look into the future requirements of the logistics industry, taking into account its prospects in the coming years.

This is all the more important because of the fact that a State like Kerala is dependent on other States for essential items. Logistics has to play a major role in the development of the State, he said, adding that setting up of new projects like Vallarpadam Terminal and Smart City have enhanced the scope of logistics industry manifold of late.

Trade union militancy

According to Mr Mohammed Kutty, the typical Kerala brand of trade union militancy and lack of seriousness on the part of the government to create a climate conducive to the growth of the industry are a major hurdle in the development of this highly potential industry.

He cited the recent instance of work stoppage at his inland container freight station following a tussle with the local workers affiliated to local trade union outfits. However, things have returned to normalcy after an interim order by the High court, he said.

Asked about the stalemate, he said “The problems we faced recently were due to the typical nature of the trade unions. But we were successful in identifying the persons behind it and we could make them understand the operational aspects of a container freight station where most of the works are mechanised. It was the High Court’s interim order not to involve in the operations where mechanised systems are in place that helped normalise things,” he said.

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