Nearly 2,700 tonnes of rice from Andhra Pradesh are being transported to China through a multimodal rail-road-sea logistics chain via Chennai Port, marking the resumption of export cargo handling through BCN wagons at Container Corporation of India’s (CONCOR) Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Tondiarpet after nearly five years.
Movement Details
The consignment, sourced from Samalkot and Tanuku regions of Andhra Pradesh, was loaded in 42 BCN (Bogie Covered Wagon with Pneumatic Brakes) wagons and transported approximately 575 km by rail to ICD Tondiarpet in Chennai. The rice bags were directly stuffed into 105 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers at the ICD and will be transported about 5 km by road to Chennai Port for onward shipment to Chinese ports.
Multimodal Efficiency
CONCOR officials stated that this movement represents a significant step toward promoting efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable multimodal logistics solutions. The operation demonstrates the practical application of integrated rail-road-sea connectivity for agricultural exports from inland production centers.
The revival of BCN wagon-based cargo handling at the Tondiarpet facility is expected to enhance the competitiveness of agricultural exports from South India by reducing logistics costs and improving transit times through coordinated multimodal transportation.
