Date:14/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121400610700.htm

Back India Gateway commissions pre-stage complex

V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi , Dec. 13

TO provide exporters with a one-stop solution for customs and export documentation, the India Gateway Terminal, the container terminal operator in Kochi Port, commissioned the pre-stage complex at Willingdon Island here on Tuesday.

The pre-stage complex will ensure that all export containers entering the Rajiv Gandhi Terminal are cleared by the Customs and ready for loading.

According to Mr Suresh Joseph, General Manager, DP World, the complex would provide the trade with a facility for handling all customs and IGT documentation under one roof and avoid traffic congestion at the terminal gate complex.

He said the pre-stage complex would be operational round-the-clock, and would facilitate the trade to complete documentation of export loads as and when the containers arrive for shipment from the factory, ICD or CFS location.

Apart from having a capacity of parking about 80-100 trucks/trailers, the pre-stage also has a customs station, which would be operational 24 hours a day, 100 per cent power back up, leased lines for data connectivity, common office for the custom house agents in order to consolidate their customs and IGT documents, a ramp for the Customs inspection etc.

Trucks with all documents in place would be allowed to enter the pre-stage complex to complete the Customs and IGT formalities. Trucks that are chosen for examination by the Customs would be directed to the ramp for inspection of the cargo. Containers cleared by the Customs would be issued a gate pass by IGT at the pre-stage complex for direct entry into the terminal.

On reaching the container terminal, Customs at the RGCT would issue "allow loading" on seal verification and adherence to other formalities mentioned in the trade facility.