January 15 , 2021
SILIGURI: The Inland Container Depot (ICD) or the dry port developed by the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) — the first of its kind facility for domestic and international cargo movement in the region — is all set to be functional soon. Set up on a 29-acre-plot that has been taken on lease from the railways by the SJDA, the facility would be run by Pristine Hindustan Infraprojects Private Limited, a company that has been jointly floated by the Pristine Logistics and Hindustan Dockyard. “The necessary infrastructure is ready at the ICD and we are waiting for a final approval of the Customs which we believe, would be ready in another seven days. We have already conducted a trial run of domestic cargo via rail last month and look forward to develop the facility as a hub for movement of cargo within and beyond the country,” said Amit Kumar, the Founder-Director of Pristine Logistics. So far, maximum cargo movement in north Bengal was done via road. Also, cargo moving to northeast or to the neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan and vice-versa, would mostly move via road through north Bengal and Siliguri. “But now that we have the facility here, cargo can be directly exported or imported from here via rail, which is a greener way of cargo movement. This would reduce the congestion in Kolkata and Haldia Ports. Initially, we will develop the connectivity with these two ports,” added Kumar. He also mentioned that cargos coming to Nepal and Bhutan from any third country can be brought here via rail and can then be transported to the respective countries. The company, sources said, has primarily planned to handle around 600-odd containers in a month. “Usually, 45 containers are carried in a train, which means movement of around 10 to 12 trains in a month. We have laid a two-kilometre long track that connects the ICD with the main track near New Jalpaiguri station. Containers can be loaded and unloaded at the premises itself and can be carried to other places,” said a representative of the company. Along with two handling railway lines, there is a designated area to handle containers meant for export and import, a Customs warehouse, space for empty containers and a fleet of trailers and ancillary equipment.
