More trucks are expected to shun the use of roads for sea routes in order to avoid congestion, save fuel and time.

While flagging off an export consignment of almost 200 trucks, the Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari called upon all automobile manufacturers to use coastal shipping mode for transporting their vehicles.

He digitally flagged off a Roll on Roll off cum general cargo vessel M.V. IDM DOODLE here carrying a consignment of 185 trucks from Chennai Port to Mongla port in Bangladesh, stated a release.

These trucks, which are being exported by Ashok Leyland Ltd, were moving to Bangladesh on the roads traversing a 1500 kilometre distance. Now, more than 500 trucks per month are expected to be exported via the sea route, taking traffic off from the roads.

Transport through the sea route will save about 15-20 days of travel time. For this trip alone that involves transport of 185 trucks, a total of about three lakh vehicle km of road travel will be saved as the land route is longer and much time is lost at the congested Petrapole-Benapole check point at the Indo-Bangladesh border, added the release.

Ashok Leyland Ltd is currently exporting around 12,000 truck chassis to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and countries in Africa. The volume to Bangladesh and Sri lanka is likely to increase by 80 per cent in the coming years, it added.

Chennai Port started coastal RoRo voyage on August 8, 2016, when 800 Hyundai cars were shipped on RoRo vessels from Chennai to Pipavav for local distribution. Besides saving time, coastal transport will also be more cost effective and environment friendly.

The Coastal Shipping Agreement between India and Bangladesh was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015. Based on the agreement sea transportation from Indian ports to Bangladesh ports is being treated as coastal movement, making it eligible for 40 per cent concession on vessel related and cargo related charges. For coastal movement through RoRo vessels, 80 per cent concession on vessel related and cargo related charges are applicable in Indian Ports.

The fuel consumption at per tonne cargo is much lower via sea route, so transportation by sea will also reduce carbon footprints on the environment. Further, the modal shift to coastal shipping will save wear and tear of the new vehicles and also reduce traffic on congested roads.

Initiatives like this are aimed at providing innovative logistic chain solutions under Sagarmala. The ultimate objective is to save logistic costs and time of transportation and boosting trade by making Indian goods competitive in International markets.

mamuni.das@thehindu.co.in

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