The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) on Friday issued the much-awaited notification declaring Larsen and Toubro's Kattupalli port as a transhipment facility.
Larsen & Toubro, in association with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd, is setting up a shipyard-cum-port at Kattupalli, about 32 km north of Chennai.
The Rs. 4,675-crore project is being implemented by L&T Shipbuilding Ltd. Though the facility was almost ready since January 2012, officials could not commence operations as they were waiting for Customs notification. In fact, Industries Minister, P. Thangamani while tabling his department's policy note in the Assembly on April 30, said the facility would be commissioned soon.
According to official sources, the notification under section 7 of the Customs Act issued by the Union Finance Ministry allows Kattupalli port to unload imported goods in containers for transhipment and load goods transhipped in containers for exports.
Talking to The Hindu , the sources said, “The first hurdle has been cleared. Now, the management has to seek the permission of Chennai Customs to notify the port under Section 8 of the Customs Act. In fact, we visited the port on Tuesday and were convinced about the infrastructural facilities. The commissioning of this facility offers us one more option to export or import goods. Though Ennore Port is just few metres away, it would take at least a year to commence the container operations.”
A notification under Section 8 is needed to approve the places for landing of goods and specify the limits of the Customs area.
A top Customs official in Chennai said the notification would be issued after inspecting the available infrastructural facilities. “First, they should seek permission from us to notify the area as custom-bound. It will be notified by a minor port as it comes under the purview of the State government. Later, a separate notification will be issued detailing the boundary and activities that can be carried out.”
For the last two days, the L&T conducted familiarisation tours for Customs House Agents and Steamer Agents. Currently, the port has three rail-mounted quayside cranes (RMQCs), 15 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGCs), two reach stackers and 420 reefer plug points.
Three more RMQC's arrived on April 12. They have been installed at the second berth.
