Nashik inland container depot to begin working in Jan

The inland container depot (ICD) at Nashik, being jointly set up by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Container Corporation of India (Concor), will become operational by the second week of January 2007.

The depot is coming up on 17.5 acres land owned by HAL near Mohadi village, six km from NH3.

The total project cost is estimated at Rs 11.5 crore. Of this, HAL and Concor have so far invested Rs 6 crore. The ICD will provide sea and air cargo facilities, sources close to the development said.

Nashik district has seen a steep rise in exports in the last three-four years. Today, around 12,000-container materials, including grapes, onion, pomegranates and industrial items are dispatched (exported) every year from the district. But, the custom clearance formalities are done in Mumbai.

Besides, it is very difficult to get the containers at the Container Freight Station (CFS) here. Exporters have to get them from Mumbai and send them back once the purpose is accomplished. Hence, containers provided by the CFS are costlier.

"With the setting up of ICD, the custom clearance and export facilities will be provided at Nashik itself," the sources added.

Initially, Concor will provide 50 to 100 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) containers and the number of containers will be increased as per the demand. The loading capacity of a TEU container will be around 28 tonnes. The capacity of ICD will be 500 TEU containers at a time.

The ICD includes two separate warehouses - air cargo warehouse with 16,000 sft area and sea cargo warehouse with 24,000 sft area. The air cargo warehouse will be connected to the runway, which is being expanded at the Ozhar.

Initially, air cargo service will be a bonded trucking. Direct air cargo service will begin from the ICD from April or May next year. The ICD will also include a business centre, and custom and operational offices.

Besides, a cold storage with 6,000 sft area will be set up for perishable goods at an investment of Rs 4 crore, the capacity of which will be 400 tonnes.