Visakhapatnam can be made a logistics hub

To increase the quantum of port-based business from the Visakhapatnam Port, the Visakha Container Terminal in association with the Port organised a trade meet in Mumbai Wednesday where all the shipping companies and EXIM fraternity were present. The city has been getting all the prominence post-bifurcation.

Visakhapatnam can be developed as a great logistics hub in Andhra Pradesh, as two major industrial corridors pass through the State, the Visakhapatnam-Chennai corridor and the Chennai-Bangalore corridor.

Meanwhile there is more focus on the development of the Port City and in order to develop Visakhapatnam as the logistics hub, the government is focusing on the improvement of rail and road connectivity, developing industrial corridors and inland waterways. In the wake of the fastest developments, a large number of investors and shipping companies have been invited to the meet.

Delivering the keynote address, Visakhapatnam Port Trust chairman MT Krishna Babu said that both the Central and state governments coined a slogan ‘Port-led Development in Andhra Pradesh’, and said that Visakhapatnam has become a hot spot on the business front. He announced that Visakhapatnam would now have an exclusive zone for railways which would eliminate all the bottlenecks in last-mile connectivity and facilitate the movement of container trains connecting the region and Visakhapatnam.

Bestowed with the second longest coastline in the country, Visakhapatnam on the east coast would become the ideal gateway and the transshipment. The Prime Minister’s Office was relentlessly working on cabotage relaxation for Visakhapatnam. Considering the potential, the VPT was extending 50 per cent concession on vessel-related charges for six months to encourage shipping lines to commence services offering direct connectivity from Visakhapatnam to new ports of call. The same would be reviewed after six months, Krishna Babu said. In his welcome address, chief operating officer, Visakha Container Terminal, Sushil Mulchandani highlighted the developments happening in and around Port City through a presentation. He invited the shipping lines to visit Visakhapatnam and understand the potential of the vast hinterland it has.

It would facilitate export promotion from the city. Vizag tops in exports of seafood and this move will further boost exports.

“Our Government will fulfil all promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act and will also try to fulfil the promises given by the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. We are not escaping our responsibility. There may be delays, but no injustice will be done to AP,” she said, alluding to the promised special status for the State over which a controversy is raging.

Earlier, K Bhaskar, Managing Director of VPL Integral CFS Private Limited, said the CFS had been set up in 11 acres out of a total of 40 acres, and it would be expanded in future.

Right now, its handling capacity is 4,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). He said a special purpose vehicle had been floated by Vizag Profiles Group and the partner, Integral Trading and Logistics, to set up the CFS.

Source: http://transreporter.com/logisticsnews/29142/Visakhapatnam-can-be-made-a-logistics-hub/