Set up inland container depot: Traders

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, July 28

Industrialists and manufacturers of the Jammu region today demanded establishment of an inland container depot in Jammu to help import of raw material and export of finished goods from J&K.

The Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA), a body of industrialists in Jammu region, also demanded a freight assistance scheme because in the absence of an inland port they were being forced to pay an additional cost on transportation for the goods imported and exported from the state.

“In the absence of an inland container depot in the state, the importers and exporters have no option but to pay an additional cost of transportation for the goods traded through nearest Dry Port at Ludhiana (Punjab). This makes products non-competitive in comparison to the export-oriented units located in the coastal areas,” said Lalit Mahajan, president, BBIA.

Mahajan said the government had been urged many times to provide assistance by reimbursing the additional cost till the establishment of an inland container depot in the state but no action had been taken till date in this regard.

The association said under its Freight Assistance Scheme for Export-Oriented Units, the Haryana government will provide one per cent freight subsidy to such units to make their products competitive in the international market.