Kochi: State’s exports commissioner and industries principal secretary P H Kurian has assured the stakeholders of the Cochin Port that he would submit a detailed report on the problems that plague the port to the state government.
Speaking at meeting he called as part of an effort to understand the problems the port faces, Mr Kurian said the demand for rationalising tax on container carriers and trailers at par with the neighbouring states will be considered favourably.
He said all the stakeholders should work in unison to ensure that the port remains competitive so that it remains in business.
The government initiated the consultation process to help streamline operation at the port after the export-import industry as well as trade unions alleged that the government has done little to help the port and terminal get back on tracks.
That the Vallarpadam international container transshipment terminal, which was expected to boost the state’s economy, has been languishing with one-third capacity utilisation has also prompted the government to take the initiative.
Exporters, steamer agents and shipping companies raised the issues of higher tariffs and rates for the services at the port. They also pointed out that several practices at the port are monopolistic, jacking up the rates.
Transporters raised the issue of the transport authorities imposing fines on container carriers for exceeding the weight limit, a practice not followed in other states.
“This has made brining containers to the Cochin Port a costly affair, forcing them to go to Tuticorin instead,” they pointed out.
C D Nanda Kumar, representative of the employees union on the Cochin Port Trust, said the meeting produced no significant result towards helping the port.
