FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Mormugao Port, the only port in the State is not serving the needs of the trade, Anthony Gaskell, Convenor, CII Goa Logistics Panel, said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Gaskell said, “We have a major port in the State but that is not really serving the needs of the trading Goa today because there is no proper functioning container terminal. We have a new port chairman, who has recently taken charge and is keen to make his mark and we hope that the trade will come forward and say that they will support the port. The main issue is that there is no functioning crane at the moment which can lift a container or other cargo.”
“We have a functioning airport but now we need to get a seaport primarily which can handle containers. Right now the port is not handling containers at all. Of course, we have a functioning ICT now which can handle international cargo but the port needs to handle the containers as a large part of the trade is suffering. We have to travel by road incurring huge expenses. There is no specific area dedicated for logistics at the moment in Goa. We need to have some land if you need a multi-modal warehousing facility,” Gaskell said.
Anirudh Agrawal, Chairman, CII Goa, shared the idea of connecting Mopa international airport with the rail network.
“Goa is a very small State. I do not see much potential in making bigger roads or wider roads. Our goal is to connect Mopa by rails. Not just people but even cargo from the neighbouring States can come to Goa and be handled from here. I think a single railway line would handle much more cargo and people than the same space of a road line,” Agrawal said.
Gaskell said talks are on with the new airport operator to have a link of Pernem with Tivim railway station by road. He said the upcoming 9th 'CII Logistics Conference, scheduled on September 29 in the city, will talk about leveraging Goa's multi-modal logistic hub with the primary focus on the Mormugao Port.
The conference would also discuss Mopa airport and its potential development plan, PM Gati Shakti (PMGS) National Master Plan, Goa Logistics and Warehouse Policy 2023 and cold chain management for perishable cargo movement by air.
Gaskell said post conference, a report would be prepared and shared with the government. “We also have follow ups with the government officials. We did give inputs for the Goa Logistics Policy. We are following and pushing the issues with the government,” Gaskell said.
