MUMBAI's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) plans to handle 40 per cent of all import deliveries through the Direct Port Delivery (DPD) system to save INR20,000 (US$293) per TEU in transaction, inventory and detention charges.
The plan aims to see import containers delivered directly to consignees within hours. Usually, import-laden containers are transferred from the terminal to a container freight station (CFS), and are delivered to the consignees or importers only after they have received Customs clearance, reported Mumbai's DNA (Daily News & Analysis).
"Under DPD, containers are delivered to the importer directly from the terminal instead of routing through a CFS. The importer receives the cargo in less than 72 hours as against an average of seven days if routed through a CFS," said JNPT chairman Anil Diggikar.
At present, there are 2,000 agencies or importers working with JNPT. However, only 778 of them have been given Accredited Client Programmer (ACP) status by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) on all-India basis. Moreover, out of the 778 agencies, only 91 are operating at JNPT.
"We want more agencies to come on board as it will only reduce the delivery time and cost. An importer can save CFS expenditure that varies between INR8,000 to INR20,000 per TEU, if DPD facility is availed," said JNPT deputy chairman Neeraj Bansal.