PANAJI
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged the Centre to introduce a container-linked Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme to revive containerised cargo movement through Mormugao Port, citing a sharp decline in feeder vessel services.
GCCI president Pratima Dhond and director general Sanjay Amonkar raised the issue with the Union Finance Ministry’s Department of Economic Affairs. Amonkar told The Goan that the proposal has the backing of the Goa government.
According to GCCI, container operations at Mormugao Port have been affected by frequent breakdowns and poor productivity of Harbour Mobile Cranes, along with procedural delays. The disruptions have discouraged shipping lines and prompted exporters, particularly from the pharmaceutical, engineering and manufacturing sectors, to transport cargo by road to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai.
The Chamber said the shift has increased logistics costs and transit times while adding pressure on regional highways.
GCCI described the situation as a “cargo catch-22”, with shipping lines seeking assured cargo volumes before resuming feeder services, while exporters have already shifted cargo to Mumbai in the absence of regular services.
The Chamber has proposed a time-bound, per-container VGF scheme modelled on an initiative at Paradip Port, where financial support was provided to carriers to offset shortfalls in cargo volumes.
The matter was also discussed with Ports Minister Digambar Kamat and Ports Secretary Nikhil Desai. Desai has asked the Mormugao Port Authority to examine the proposal, while its Traffic Manager Jerome Clement is working on the concept.
GCCI said the scheme could help restore feeder services, shift cargo from road to sea, reduce logistics costs and lower carbon emissions.
