A significant development that would streamline operations and lessen traffic at one of Bangladesh’s busiest ports, Chittagong Port will launch a fully digital gate fee payment system for cargo vehicles by the end of November. For the Readymade Garment (RMG) industry, which mostly depends on prompt freight handling for its exports, this upgrading is very important.
After its first debut in July 2021, the digital payment initiative ran into a number of operational issues. However, representatives of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) have now declared their confidence in achieving full efficiency by the end of this month. Under the current manual procedure, each cargo vehicle entering the port must pay an entry charge of Tk57.50 and wait times can be anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. The timely delivery of goods, which is essential in the fast-paced RMG industry, may be impacted by these delays.
By allowing drivers to pre-pay the admission fee via mobile banking from any location, the new digital approach will significantly cut down on the amount of time cars must wait upon arrival to just 1-2 minutes. It is expected that this will enhance operational transparency and offer a more equitable entry process for the approximately 8,000 cargo cars that enter the port daily, allowing for more effective logistics for apparel manufacturers.
This change is crucial for the RMG sector, which is continuously under pressure to meet demand globally. Faster entry procedures can result in shorter lead times for exporters, enabling them to supply apparel on schedule and boosting the sector’s competitiveness in international markets.
