Road congestion in Chennai and Puducherry will come down significantly after a pact between Chennai port and the Puducherry government for handling of export-import cargo, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said.
"Road congestion will reduce substantially due to the pact for handling exim cargo as almost 300 trucks will go off the road. Around 5-10 lakh tonnes of cargo is expected to be handled once this arrangement becomes operational," Gadkari, who holds shipping, road transport and highways portfolio, said.
After the signing of the pact between the Chennai Port Trust, one of the 12 major ports in the country, and the government of Puducherry here for handling the exim cargo, Gadkari said the move will also bring down pollution significantly.
The MoU envisages that the Chennai Port Trust will assist Puducherry Port in handling its export cargo.
The cargo originating from Puducherry Port hinterland will be transported through sea mode to the Chennai port for shipping to overseas destinations through mainline and feeder vessels.
"Similarly, the import cargo destined to Puducherry hinterland will be unloaded at the Chennai port and will be moved in small coastal vessels to the Puducherry port, thus reducing total logistics costs, besides easing road congestion," a statement from the shipping ministry said.
The pact was inked in presence of Gadkari, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansamy and Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Lal Mandaviya.
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