Chennai : The Chennai Port (ChPT) has suggested the termination of export cargo at the Container Freight Stations (CFS) on a trial basis from May 1 to find a solution to the congestion problem

Sources said that though there were 32 CFS in the city, the seal verification of factory stuff containers was being done only at the Madhavaram CFS on 24X7 basis and hence most of the exporters prefer to go there. In the absence of adequate number of Customs officers at the CFS, clearance of cargo and containers invariably got delayed leading to congestion on arterial roads.

Long queues of containers not only affected the people of North Chennai but also impacted the export import trade and the ChPT volume.

A ChPT official said that nearly 50 per cent of the vehicles arrived at the Port zero gate without documents, particularly Form-13, thus blocking the movement of other cargo and container-laden vehicles that possessed complete entry documents.

At a recent meeting, the container terminal operators and ChPT officials suggested the termination of export cargo in any of the private CFS near the Chennai Port and that particular CFS would take the responsibility of movement of cargo to the port. The new system, if implemented, would result in better turnaround time for export cargo and trailers would be able to operate more trips.

As it takes normally two to three days for a transporter to reach the port, the Chennai Steamer Agents Association asked exporters to bring their consignment or cargo to the CFS 36 hours before the scheduled arrival of the vessel so that loading could become easier. The new system would reduce the expenditure on transport.

It would be carried out on an experimental basis for three months, the ChPT official said.