Government to track freight containers movement via smart chip

The government is set to kick off an ambitious scheme to track the movement of freight containers through a smart chip as it looks to speed up cargo movement and decongest ports.

In the first phase, beginning May 1, it will track all containers moving along the Delhi-Mumbai corridor to identify the hurdles on the way to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai, which handles 50% of the container traffic in the country. Each container that will land in JNPT will be tagged with a smart chip-like gadget and will be tracked across the country until it leaves Indian shores. The plan is to cover all ports.

Government to track freight containers movement via smart chip

During a meeting convened by commerce secretary Rita Teaotia, it was pointed out that several illegal parking areas, weigh bridges and repair workshops on agricultural land have mushroomed on the road ( NH4) leading to JNPT, resulting in congestion, blocking of traffic and delay in movement of cargo.

Sources said once the container is tagged, it will be possible to find out where it is held up. “Over the next 12-15 months, this will help us identify the hurdles and remove them,” said an official. The scheme will become a paid service from July.

Source: http://goo.gl/tQH9zn