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Kolkata Docks To Run 24-Hour Rail Link

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Our Bureau BUSINESS STANDARD

Kolkata Dock System (KDS) of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has reintroduced the round the clock three shift working of the port railway network.

The decision was taken following steady increase of railway borne traffic at KDS. The railway traffic at the dock shot up to 2.32 lakh tonne in the first quarter of 2003-4 as compared to 1.31 lakh tonne corresponding period last fiscal. In 2002-3, KDS handled 6.14 lakh tonne cargo as compared to 5.11 lakh tonne in 2001-2.

The new set up, introduced after a gap of two years, will replace the existing single shift working and further facilitate railway borne cargo to KDS.

 

KoPT has devised several customised packages of incentives to lure railway borne cargo, one of them being container cargo from north Indian ICDs.

The port was working with Eastern Railway and CONCOR for bringing more cargo to KDS. ER, which was under-utilising its freight load capacity, was improving condition of tracks within port area.

The port has also taken major initiative to implement e-commerce to reduce processing cost and time. Sources in the port said KDS would be introducing EDI (electronic data interchange) system within three months. This will help agents file their shipping papers with port electronically from anywhere in the world.

Internet banking facility has been made available to KoPT users. They can remit charges to KDS using the facility. To avail this, a user was required to have an account with the designated banks. They could transfer funds from their account to the port on account of charges.

In the first quarter, draft situation in KDS has also improved significantly. The draft trend and forecast for July and August 2003 said river draft had increased to 8.3 meters from 7.8 meters.

As a result, average parcel size of vessels improved to 8769 tonne as compared to 6857 tonne in the same period last fiscal. Consequently, vessel carrying break bulk and liquid cargo which constitute about 50 per cent of vessels at KDS had benefited as they could bring in higher parcel load and deliver better economy of scale for users.

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First Published: Jul 18 2003 | 12:00 AM IST

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