KoPT keen on logistics board

The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) plans to ask the Union and West Bengal governments to set up national and regional level logistics boards for better co ordination between railways, port and aviation ministries, KoPT chairman A K Chandra said a seminar on logistics at Bengal National Chamber of Commerce here today.

Chandra said better co ordination between railways, aviation and port ministries was needed as they were the three vital pillars of logistics.

This would reduce the turnaround time for shippers.

At present, heavy vehicles could move from Kolkata port to Kolkata city only for 12 hours in a day and this pushed up turnaround time.

"The customs department too is a part of logistics family," he said.

Commenting on the proposed diversification of KoPT, he said itys proposal for a tea park at Khidirpur should begin by the end of this fiscal.

The 14-acre special economic zone (SEZ) on tea needed clearance from the Union commerce ministry soon and would cost around Rs 28 crore.