PANAJI
Industries in Goa appeared relieved over Konkan Railway Corporation's announcement that a container terminal will be built in Balli soon, which will be connected to a railway line.
The Goan caught up with some of the industrialists to get their views on how it would benefit the industrial sector in Goa despite the fact that the container terminal is planned at far away Balli in South Goa, a location not central to the sector.
Parag Joshi, managing partner, Jutex, feels, "Sending containers through rail will reduce burden on roads and will reduce congestion. Besides, people have to spend a lot of money on sending containers by road. However, freight will come down if the same cargo is sent by railways".
So roads are not only more dangerous mode, but they also cause a huge dent in the pocket of people sending cargo. Another source informed that often the cost of sending container by roads can be as much as 50 per cent of the value of cargo itself, which is prohibitive.
Pharmaceutical companies send a lot of container cargo by road to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). But, these companies can even send their cargo through Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
Vilas Nagre, president, corporate affairs, Indoco Remedies, said, “From MPT, our cargo doesn’t directly to go to its destination. It is first shipped to Sri Lanka from where it is shipped to US or Europe. Pharma companies don’t like transshipment because they tend to lose control on their cargo in loading and unloading. Besides, we have to maintain a certain temperature for a number of drugs, which becomes extremely difficult with transshipping”.
This shows that pharma companies have little choice as of now but to send their cargo to JNPT by road. Nagre added, “Given that, it is great if a container terminal comes up in Goa because that will save us from sending our cargo by road”.
Praveen Blaggon, president, Honda Industrial Estate, said, “It is a great idea to have a container terminal in Goa, but I don’t think Balli is the right location because it is deep down in South Goa, which is far away from where most industries are. I’d think a central location would be ideal for such a terminal”.
Reacting to this, Joshi replied, “But, I don’t think we have ample land in central Goa to create a container terminal. Besides, wherever such terminals come up, it is a practice to have them away from congested areas to avoid further congestion”.
