The Hindu Business Line : Adani Logistics starts moving cars in container train service

Transportation mode
Shreyas Shipping Corporation’s coastal shipping service being used for the purpose
Open to sharing Patli ICD with other container train operators
To add four rakes by January

Mamuni Das

New Delhi, Nov. 19

Adani Logistics, which recently launched container train operations from its inland container depot (ICD) near Gurgaon to Mundra port, is moving cars from Maruti Suzuki India’s Gurgaon manufacturing plant. The cars are subsequently moved to Kochi using Shreyas Shipping Corporation’s coastal shipping service.

This may mark the beginning of shift in transportation mode used for automobile transportation for the North-South sector in the country — from road to container train-cum-coastal shipping.

“We have started a weekly container train service from our ICD in Patli (30 km from Gurgaon) to Mundra port about ten days ago,” Mr Yogendra Sharma, President, Adani Logistics, told Business Line. The rake moved 90 cars in the first trip, 100 cars in the second trip and would move 130 cars in the third trip slated this week, said Mr Sharma. In the return trip, the train loads domestic cargo such as vegetable oil, salt and spices.

CONTAINER DEPOTS

In Patli, Adani Logistics has acquired 180 acres for setting up an ICD — out of which 80 acres have been developed. The ICD has been developed with a land cost of Rs 90 crore and construction cost of Rs 78 crore. Facilities within the ICD include two rail lines, three cranes, 5,500 sq. m covered warehouse and 1.5 lakh sq. m paved area, Mr Sharma said.

“Compared to other ICDs located in the National Capital Region and its vicinity, Patli ICD provides the shortest link to the ports located in the western coast. Our rakes take 35 hours to reach Mundra via Rewari, Jaipur and Ajmer,” said Mr Sharma, adding that the company is open to providing access to other container train operators.

The ICD has been inspected by the Customs Department and is likely to be notified for handling exim traffic soon. The facility would have the capacity to handle one lakh twenty feet equivalent units (TEU) containers per annum in the first phase and up to four lakh twenty feet equivalent units when the entire land is used.

The company is also setting up another ICD over 108 acres in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, with a total cost of Rs 45-50 crore, which would come up by March 2008.

ROLLING STOCK

In terms of rolling stock, the company has two rakes already and expects to add four more by mid-January 2008. Each rake comprises 45 flat wagons.

“We are already running a bi-weekly container train service from Ajmer (from Indian Railways facility) to Mundra port with one rake,” Mr Sharma said. The second rake is used for Patli-Mundra weekly service. The third rake would be delivered by mid-December and three more rakes by mid-January.

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