Indian ports not standardised, says study

In a recent study, it has been observed that the processes and operations across India’s ports are not standardised or uniform, while costs and time for key processes are unpredictable, also there is an unacceptable level of variation across as well as within the ports. The study titled, Port Logistics: Issues and Challenges in India, undertaken by advisory firm Dun & Bradstreet (DNB) on behalf of Niti Aayog identified the major problems faced on the ground by the end-users of ports—exporters, importers and freight forwarders. It listed five issues—port congestion, custom clearance, shipping line issues and charges, documentation and paperwork and regulatory clearances—as the major hurdles leading to detention and demurrage challenges faced by traders in.