As part of its exercise to meet the stakeholders after declaration of Visakhapatnam Port as second gateway after Kolkata Port, a seven-member delegation from Nepal held discussions with the officials of Customs Commissionerate on Thursday.
The team led by Chief Secretary of Nepal Somal Subedi met Chief Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax R. Shakuntala and discussed the modalities of clearance of import and export of cargo meant for Nepal through Visakhapatnam Port.
Based on the understanding reached between the Prime Ministers India and Nepal and subsequent meeting of Inter-Governmental Committee in Kathmandu, the Government of India has agreed to provide additional transit facilities for movement of containerised cargo through Visakhapatnam Port.
Currently, the goods imported and exported by Nepal are cleared through Kolkata Port under treaty of transit between the two countries. Under the amended provisions of the treaty, four new road routes connecting Visakhapatnam with Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj have been approved.
Besides operation of rail services between Visakhapatnam and Jogbani, Visakhapatnam-Birgunj connectivity is also envisaged. Ms. Shakuntala said the opening of the new route would make a new beginning and further strengthen the bond between the two countries.
She assured the visiting delegation on behalf of Indian Customs that utmost importance would be given to ensure smooth flow of international trade through Visakhapatnam Port.
Visits Waltair division hq
Meanwhile, the delegation visited the Waltair Division Headquarters to examine the facilities for transport of goods from Visakhapatnam Port to Nepal by Railways.
The seven-member delegation, led by the Cabinet Secretary, includes Secretaries of other Departments and Nepal Consul General in India. Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) Chairman M.T. Krishnababu accompanied the high-level team.
Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Railway Manager Chandralekha Mukherjee said: “The decision of the Government of India identifying VPT as a second Gateway Port for freight handling to Nepal provides major impetus to container traffic. Indian Railways in general and East Coast Railway in particular are committed to develop Visakhapatnam Port as a major container hub in future.”
Delegates from Nepal, officials of VPT, Container Corporation of India and Visakha Container Terminal Private Limited (VCTPL) participated in the meeting.
