GCCI urges Centre to set up inland container depot at MMLP

The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged the Centre to set up an inland container depot (ICD) facility at newly inaugurated Multi Modal Logistic Park (MMLP) to boost exports from the state.

The industry body has raised the demand for setting up an ICD after several of its members pointed out to its absence at MMLP, which is set up at Balli in south Goa.

The demand was also reiterated during the recent visit of Union commerce minister Suresh Prabhu to the state for inaugurating the green building centre at Kudaim Industrial Estate by ACC Cement in partnership with Alcon-Counto group.

MMLP, which is jointly set up by Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), was inaugurated in March.

"In order to provide Goa the desired economic boost, the Centre should set up infrastructure facilities like export warehousing and an ICD at MMLP," Anil Counto, member, GCCI and chairman, Alcon-Counto group, told PTI.

He also said that there is a need to restart the Goa regional office of directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), a Government of India entity, which wound up its operations from the state two months back.

GCCI secretary General RS Kamat said that the industry is demanding to set up an ICD at MMLP because once it happens, sending cargo by railway will become an affordable option.

"Transportation of goods by air and trucks are very costly. If that (ICD) happens, many people are waiting to avail the facility. The Chamber has been pursuing this demand for long," he said.

"The multi modal facility has commenced and it is available only to the domestic cargo. There is no EXIM facility there," he added.

Another senior GCCI member said that the DGFT office in the state was closed two months back citing reasons like consolidation.

"The DGFT officials also claimed that it is expensive for them to operate from Goa. They said that they will control from the Mumbai office. They have maintained Belgaum (Karnataka) office where business is less," he said.

He further said that reopening of the DGFT office is the need of the hour considering the fact that the state is getting ready for its greenfield airport at Mopa.

The GCCI member claimed that the businesses in the state at present have to rely on the Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Nhava Sheva in Mumbai, due to non availability of this facility in Goa.