Category Archives: Rail/Road

The Indian government has introduced a new transhipment procedure using an electronic cargo tracking system to facilitate the transport of Nepal-bound transit cargo from Kolkata, a significant move that will simplify border formalities, reduce transit time, ensure safety of the consignment, and boost bilateral trade. The first train carrying Nepal-bound transit containers under the new simplified transhipment procedure was flagged off on February 15 by Kolkata Port Trust. According to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of the Government of India launched such a modality on pilot basis on rail route from Kolkata/Haldia to Birgunj via Raxual Land Customs Station and Biratnagar via Bathnaha Railway Station and Jogbani Land Customs Station.

DP World signed a partnership with Virgin Hyperloop One last year to develop a cargo transporter. The port operator DP World has zeroed down on India to launch its first cargo hyperloop, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, stated. The company is eager to now move on to the next step. “We are investing in something we believe is going to add value,” Sulayem said. He described hyperloop’s technology as a potential transformative solution for the country of 1.3 billion, as it would run underground.

CONCOR and RZD Logistics (RZDL), a Russian Railways company, have agreed to jointly develop multimodal logistics services along INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor) route. The MoU signed between the two purports to explore opportunities in developing joint logistical projects both in India and in Russia, using international transport corridors, to include the International North South Transport Corridor. With the signing of MoU, both companies intend to set up joint enhancement of Indian-Russian logistical cooperation, develop prospective projects related to container transhipment between the countries, design new top-quality logistical services, and aim at further efficiency improvement of the INSTC route.

India has firmed up the contours of its ambitious multi-modal programme to reduce logistics costs and make the economy competitive. To pursue the further work on development of integrated multimodal transport infrastructure in the country, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry has organised the Multimodal Transportation Conclave 2019 in the capital. Leena Nandan, IAS, Additional Secretary, Misnistry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India says, “Currently we have excellent but perishable commodities that are produced in the Northeast and there is no reason why we should not be able to take it to the rest of the country or rest of the world. We believe that the Multimodal Logistics Park at Jogigopha can serve as a connecting point for all these products.”

To check Goods & Services Tax (GST) evasion, the government is planning to integrate the GST e-way bill system with the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI’s) FASTag mechanism, from April. The revenue department has set up an officers’ committee to integrate the e-way bill, FASTag, and DMIC’s Logistics Data Bank (LDB) services, after consultation with transporters. “It has come to our notice that some transporters are doing multiple trips by generating a single e-way bill. Integration of the e-way bill with FASTag would help find the location of the vehicle and when and how many times it has crossed NHAI’s toll plazas,” an official told PTI, adding that the integrated system on an all-India basis was planned to be rolled out from April.

The maiden coastal voyage of a vessel of Container Corporation of India (Concor) was flagged off by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Railways and Coal from Kandla through video link from Delhi on January 10, 2019. The vessel SSL Mumbai is sailing from Kandla Port to Tuticorin via Mangalore and Cochin. This is a unique example of multi-modal logistics solution through integrated rail and coastal movement. With this CONCOR will start coastal movement of containers as a weekly service on this route, moving about 1400 containers. Gadkari expressed confidence that this modal shift in the logistics chain was an important beginning that would help to bring down logistics costs and make Indian goods more competitive in the global markets in the very near future.

According to a PTI report, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has concluded the import and delivery of 50 GE locomotives from US to Indian Railways. All the 50 locomotives were manufactured by GE or the General Electric Division in US, which is an American multinational conglomerate, and the locomotives had been imported to Mundra port. APSEZ dispatched 50 GE locomotives from Mundra port for the Indian Railways. This is a first for Indian shipping and logistics, Adani Ports said.

APM Terminals Pipavav is now connected to ICD Kanpur via train. The new connection has been established by CONCOR. It gives customers an opportunity to connect to the gateway port of Pipavav. The maiden export train that started from ICD Kanpur (JRY) to Port Pipavav in November has been aptly named POLYMER Express, as it was carrying 90 TEUs of polymer for GAIL. The export-loaded train was flagged off by CN Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Santosh Kumar Singh, Terminal Manager, ICD Kanpur, on November 13, 2018.

Russian rail monopoly RZD and Indian Railways will sign a memorandum to set up a joint operator of rail cargo traffic via the North-South corridor, informed Alexander Misharin, First Deputy Director General, RZD. He named traffic via the North-South corridor among the priorities for cooperation between the two companies. “We plan to sign a memorandum of agreement on developing cooperation with Indian Railways, which includes design and supplies of dispatch control systems, automated systems, creating a joint operator, study and preparation of documents to organise joint agreements on cargo traffic,” he said. The North-South international transport corridor is aimed at transporting cargo from India and Persian Gulf countries to western and northern Europe via Iran, Azerbaijian and Russia. The corridor’s main advantage is that the delivery will be two or three times faster than via other routes. Initially, the side plan to transport five million tonnes annually, and the volume may be doubled in the future.

Marking the 14th facility in Maharashtra DHL Express has inaugurated a new service centre in Aurangabad. RS Subramanian, Country Manager, DHL Express India, said, “Aurangabad is a burgeoning trade hub for start-ups and small and medium enterprises. Our new facility is poised for this growth and will help us facilitate seamless business for our customers, who can rely on us to reach international markets. This reaffirms our commitment towards being key trade enablers.” Strategically located on Beed bypass, the new 2700 sqft facility will cover an area of 300 sqkm surrounding key industrial hubs, including old and new Aurangabad, Chikalthana MIDC, Shendra MIDC, Chittegaon MIDC and Waluj MIDC. Customers will benefit from the service center by saving at least one day on overall shipment transit time. The new facility aims to enable and facilitate trade in Aurangabad, which is emerging as a strong manufacturing base and a prominent location for the IT sector. In addition, it will extend support to industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, electronics and engineering.