Punjab to get direct rail access to seaports of Gujarat and Mumbai for boosting trade

Chandigarh, December 22: With an aim to boost the trade, smooth trading operations and economy of the state, Punjab government has decided to have direct rail access to all the seaports of Gujarat and Mumbai. 

Notably, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) inked an agreement to equip, operate, manage, maintain and market the Container Freight Station (CFS) facility at Dappar. The agreement was signed in the presence of Viswajeet Khanna Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab.

Divulging this here today, an official spokesman said that the Agreement to commence from 1st January 2018 is poised to provide direct Rail Access of the regional trade of Punjab to the Sea Ports of Gujarat and Mumbai, Rail transportation of goods in safe, efficient and secure mode in containers, Reduce the cost in transportation of goods to/from Gujarat and Mumbai, Spacious godowns for storage of import/export cargoes at Dappar and Customs Clearance of goods at the Dappar Dry Port.

Disclosing more about the MoU, the spokesman said that the Punjab Government in its State Industrial and Business Development Policy 2017 has laid focus on strengthening Dry Port in Dappar by providing required facilities including rail link. After implementation of GST, Dappar is viewed to play a major role in warehousing sector, which is poised for an enormous expansion in the State.