Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), a Navratna PSU of Govt. of India, Ministry of Railways organised a Trade Meet on 26th April, 2023 at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida to brief the trade about commencement of Double-stack Container Trains from ICD Dadri to Mundra Port on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The meet was attended by representatives of various renowned trade partners, comprising Shipping Lines, Exporters, Importers, Freight Forwarders and Joint Venture Companies-CFSs of ICD Dadri. The meet was chaired by Mr V. Kalyana Rama, IRTS, Chairman and Managing Director, CONCOR; while Mr Nanduri Srinivas, IRTS, Director (Operations & Business Development), DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.), Mr Sanjay Swarup, IRTS, Director (Operations and International Marketing), CONCOR, Mr Kamal Jain, IRTS, Executive Director, Area-1, CONCOR, Mr Vijoy K Singh, IRTS, Chief General Manager (Cluster Head), CONCOR and others participated, and interacted with the trade representatives. Mr Jitendar Jeengar, Chief Manager, ICD Dadri facilitated the meet.
ICD, Dadri is a very well established CONCOR terminal serving the trade in both Export and Import business besides Domestic business within India as Private Freight Terminal approved by the Indian Railways. It is strategically located at Dadri, Greater Noida, and caters to the business needs of a vast area of UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and around. Being an ICD (CFS) itself, it further works on a unique model with four private Joint Venture partners, viz. M/s’s Transworld, Star Track, CMA-CGM, and AllCargo Logistics. ICD, Dadri is connected with all major ports of western India, viz. JNPT, Mundra and Pipavav.
In order to optimise transit time and to ensure direct connectivity with sea ports, the much-awaited Double-stack Train was successfully flagged off on 20th April, 2023 from ICD Dadri to Mundra Port on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) network. Under WDFC network, the trains from ICD/Dadri to Mundra Port covered the distance of 1158 Kms. well within 30 Hrs., while the earlier average timing remained around 70 Hrs. And, it is expected further reduction in transit time. Very soon, Long-haul and Double-stack trains will also move from ICD, Dadri to Pipavav and JNPT Ports besides Mundra port. A Double-stack train carries 180 TEUs, while a normal train carries only 90 TEUs of containers. In long-haul, two trains are coupled together to form a long train to carry more containers in one go.
Running of Double-stack and long-haul trains from CONCOR ICD, Dadri, heralds a new beginning; and, it will be a game changer for the Trade of this area as it will bring down transit time drastically in addition to decrease logistics costs at many areas. The existing road transportation traffic will also be diverted to ICD Dadri to avail the benefits through WDFC.
Trade can now easily estimate their vessel plans to add value to their business as the trains will move directly to the destination ports under WDFC network.
CONCOR ICD Dadri is, therefore, all set to become the hub of trade for international business with the active support of stakeholders.
