A technologically advanced facility called ‘Container Digital Exchange’ (CODEX), the first of its kind in India, designed to track movement of container cargo was established at V.O. Chidambaranar Port here on Thursday.
Pranab Kumar Das, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Chennai, inaugurated the facility in the presence of S. Anantha Chandra Bose, Chairman, V.O.C. Port Trust, Thoothukudi, and K.C. Johny, Commissioner of Customs, Tuticorin Custom House.
With this facility, the cargo moving from the port to container freight stations could be monitored. Barcode facility for containerised cargo, identity cards for truck operators, smart card facility and global positioning system – all these features would only ensure cargo security. The CODEX platform has successfully processed more than 42,000 containers during the pilot phase, thereby eliminating all documents accompanying a container movement at the port here.
ADVERTISEMENT
Further, the Chief Commissioner said Tiruchi Customs Preventive Zone, comprising Tuticorin Customs House, had surpassed the revenue target of Rs. 3,000 crore set for 2015-16 by realising Rs. 3,030 crore. The Finance Ministry had set a revenue target of Rs. 3,200 crore for this zone for 2016-17 fiscal, he said.
Mr. Bose said efforts were on to set up a modern truck parking terminal in the vicinity of the port at a cost of Rs. 25 crore under Sagarmala Project. The terminal would have adequate infrastructure facilities and could accommodate around 250 trucks.
A container scanner was also likely to come up on the premises of the port at a cost of Rs. 30 crore, Mr. Bose said. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Tuticorin Custom House released a ‘Shipping Directory - 2016’ published by Tuticorin Ship Agents Association and Tuticorin Customs Brokers’ Association (TCBA). Mr. Johny also issued identity cards to members of the TCBA for transacting at all container freight stations and inland container depot.
ADVERTISEMENT