Food Corp of India To Boost Traffic at Kochi Port

Bulk and break bulk cargo movement through Kochi Port is likely to rise after FCI picks the port for its food grains movement.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) recently signed a tender for multi-modal contract for transport of rice from designated depots of Kakinada to Kerala, India, to be delivered though coastal movement and into the Kochi Port. According to the Hindu Business Line,  the contract is for one year  and overall they are expected to move 2.40 lakh tonnes of bagged rice to six designated depots of FCI in Kerala using multi-modal transport system.

A senior port official said that Kochi is well equipped to handle food grains in the Ernakulam wharf with the existence of rail sidings and road connectivity to move the cargo freely. With the shifting of container terminal operations to Vallarpadam, the facilities in the Kochi wharf offer a good opportunity to handle bulk and break bulk cargoes. 

The recent passage of India's Food Security Bill has facilitated major ports to play a leading role in ensuring timely delivery of food grains to destinations at cost-effective rates and with minimum transit loss. At present around 20 lakh tonnes of food grains per day are moving through various modes of transport in India and once the port infrastructure is developed, he said a considerable portion can be shifted to seaways, which is proved to be cost effective. To read more, click HERE.

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