JNPT eases cargo delivery to boost ‘Make in India’

TIN news:   Just when PM Narendra Modi launched the ‘Make in India’ project in the financial capital of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the largest container terminal in India, started a new system of cargo clearance that will make it easier and faster for importers to import goods through this port.
Christened Direct Port Delivery (DPD), the system allows government-accredited reputed importers and importing agencies to take delivery of goods from the port soon after the arrival of ships, provided they comply with all the necessary paperwork in advance. In the regular course, importers complete their paperwork and pay their dues after a ship arrives at the port.
Soon after taking office in May 2014, the PM had visited JNPT and announced his dream of having a shipping port-led growth and making the country a hub for manufacturing. The DPD system is part of Modi’s ‘ease of doing business’ initiative, port officials said. The logistics project at the port, which was initiated by the shipping ministry, will ensure greater competitiveness both for domestic and export oriented manufacturers. DPD will allow 143 customs-accredited importers to directly import and store them free of cost at the JNPT yard for three days for transporting them further to their respective destinations. The extension of DPD will enhance container movement at the port, thereby increasing cargo volume.
Anil Diggikar, JNPT chairman, informed that a decision has been taken to dispense with the minimum import volume criteria, that was in force till recently. It will now extend DPD facility to all accredited importers from the port’s container terminal with immediate effect irrespective of their import volume.
This will be on a trial basis for six months and continuance of the system beyond six months will be subject to operational convenience. Diggikar also said with this, a long-pending demand of the trade bodies will be met. “Under this facility, the import laden containers will be delivered to the consignees directly while reducing the burden of logistics cost,” he said.
According to Neeraj Bansal, deputy chairman, JNPT, the DPD scheme in the current format will ensure cutting cost of delivery and also the transport cost as the goods were loaded onto a different transport vehicle after obtaining the clearance from the customs.