The Chennai Port has temporarily stopped handling export containers to evacuate the 11,000 import boxes piled up at the container terminals in the last couple of weeks.
The export cargo – around 1,000 exports boxes come in to the port every day – are either at various locations around Chennai or are being diverted to Tuticorin port, according to industry sources.
In the last 24 hours, 2,200 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) were evacuated from the terminal as against the normal 1,500 TEUs.
There are still 9,000 TEUs to be moved out, said sources.
However, the situation could worsen next week as 9,000 import boxes will arrive in eleven vessels.
However, an official at the terminal was confident that the situation could return to normal from Monday following evacuation of the import boxes.
Cleaner beaten up
Import boxes started piling up from November 13 when the trailer operators stopped plying their vehicles in protest against the beating up of a vehicle’s cleaner in North Chennai by local people. The residents were agitated over container trailers plying in bad road conditions and posing a risk to people in the area.
Container movement to and from the Chennai port came to halt for four days even as the terminal was receiving import boxes. The situation worsened as bad roads in North Chennai slowed down movement of boxes only one, the ‘zero gate’ was available for both inbound and outbound boxes.
Meet with trade
At a meeting of various stakeholders of the Chennai Trade Coordination Committee on November 30, it was decided that priority will be given to evacuate the 11,000 containers lying in the terminals at the port and temporarily stop bringing export boxes to the port.
Starting from 1200 hrs on December 2 (Thursday) till 1800 hrs on December 5 (Sunday) receipts of exports have been stopped. The terminals – DP World Chennai and Chennai International Terminal – stopped offloading outstation containers from 1200 hrs on December 2.
The container freight stations stopped stuffing of exports from 2200 hrs of November 30.
It was also decided that all containers that are presently in the terminals will be exempt from penal charges such as demurrage, storage and detention.
Ennore –Manali road
The Chennai Port Trust, on its part, assured the Committee that steps will be initiated to complete the patch work on a war footing on the much delayed EMRIP (Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project) road by the National Highways Authority of India within a month.
It assured to take up with the Tamil Nadu police to give protection to drivers operating from Ennore Expressway to Ponneri-Panchetti Road till the patch work is completed.
Further, till the four-lane comes into use, transporters can carry only one loaded or two empty containers on a single trailer.
Steps will be taken to complete ‘O’ gate parking by the end of December and the decision on Thiruvotriyur parking yard will be expedited, the Port Trust said.
The export cargo – around 1,000 exports boxes come in to the port every day – are either at various locations around Chennai or are being diverted to Tuticorin port, according to industry sources.
In the last 24 hours, 2,200 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) were evacuated from the terminal as against the normal 1,500 TEUs.
There are still 9,000 TEUs to be moved out, said sources.
However, the situation could worsen next week as 9,000 import boxes will arrive in eleven vessels.
However, an official at the terminal was confident that the situation could return to normal from Monday following evacuation of the import boxes.
Cleaner beaten up
Import boxes started piling up from November 13 when the trailer operators stopped plying their vehicles in protest against the beating up of a vehicle’s cleaner in North Chennai by local people. The residents were agitated over container trailers plying in bad road conditions and posing a risk to people in the area.
Container movement to and from the Chennai port came to halt for four days even as the terminal was receiving import boxes. The situation worsened as bad roads in North Chennai slowed down movement of boxes only one, the ‘zero gate’ was available for both inbound and outbound boxes.
Meet with trade
At a meeting of various stakeholders of the Chennai Trade Coordination Committee on November 30, it was decided that priority will be given to evacuate the 11,000 containers lying in the terminals at the port and temporarily stop bringing export boxes to the port.
Starting from 1200 hrs on December 2 (Thursday) till 1800 hrs on December 5 (Sunday) receipts of exports have been stopped. The terminals – DP World Chennai and Chennai International Terminal – stopped offloading outstation containers from 1200 hrs on December 2.
The container freight stations stopped stuffing of exports from 2200 hrs of November 30.
It was also decided that all containers that are presently in the terminals will be exempt from penal charges such as demurrage, storage and detention.
Ennore –Manali road
The Chennai Port Trust, on its part, assured the Committee that steps will be initiated to complete the patch work on a war footing on the much delayed EMRIP (Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project) road by the National Highways Authority of India within a month.
It assured to take up with the Tamil Nadu police to give protection to drivers operating from Ennore Expressway to Ponneri-Panchetti Road till the patch work is completed.
Further, till the four-lane comes into use, transporters can carry only one loaded or two empty containers on a single trailer.
Steps will be taken to complete ‘O’ gate parking by the end of December and the decision on Thiruvotriyur parking yard will be expedited, the Port Trust said.