A dedicated weekly train service for cargo containers from Bengaluru to Krishnapatnam Port enables local export-import businesses to transport cargoes more efficiently.
Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal (KPCT) in partnership with Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) launched a new weekly rail service from Krishnapatnam Port to Concor-managed inland container depot (ICD) at Whitefield in Bengaluru. This service provides the fastest transit from Bengaluru to the closest gateway port and support the interests of the importers and exporters around Bengaluru, Hosur and Chittoor. The service will immensely benefit the heavy cargoes like granite, gherkins, coffee, and machinery which face regulatory issues due to the weight restrictions on road transport.
The train service has a maximum carrying capacity of 90 TEU each way and reduces the transportation time from 24-36 hours taken by road to just 18 hours. In addition, it also helps customers to save between $100–$150 on each container.
Unlike the road transport which involves multiple examinations even after taking prior customs clearance of the containers, the train can directly enter the port without any further examination which makes it the fastest transit from Bengaluru to any gateway port. The last mile train connectivity at Krishnapatnam is also congestion-free and dedicated only for container trains. The new weekly train service runs on every Friday evening. This will enable the traders to complete their custom related documentation at Whitefield Depot during five days of the week and use the weekend to get the goods transported from Bangalore and load it onto the ships. The train returns on Sundays from the port carrying the goods imported by the traders and delivers the containers on Monday in Bengaluru.
“The service will certainly add value to the customers who have been looking for such service in terms of safety, lesser cost and time efficiency. We are sure that the industries in Bengaluru will get a major boost through this service and supported with the efficient facilities at Krishnapatnam Port,” said S P Shastri, Chief Manager, CONCOR, and the head of the Whitefield ICD. The KPCT train turn-around-time is also the fastest amongst all South-Indian-Ports. With its on-dock-rail-sidings, the containers can directly enter the yard of the terminal without wasting time like other ports wherein delays in shifting container from rail siding to container yard.
“The express service of a green channel for ship loading and unloading at the port is also one of our unique offerings. The availability of custom officers at all the time throughout the seven days of the week additionally assists the exporters and importers to close the documentation in case they opt to do so at the port,” said Sriram Ravi Chander, Executive Director, KPCT. “Such advantages coupled with regular service calls by main liners and feeder services to all parts of the world only adds up to the growth of containerization for the South Indian trade. Thus, this rail service aims to develop access to new developmental regions with intermodal solutions and enhancing capacities with superior connectivity thereby boosting export-import as well as domestic trade,” Chander added.