KATHMANDU: Visakhapatnam Port has been declared as the second gateway port for Nepal after Kolkata-Haldia.
The movement of traffic-in-transit between Port of Visakhapatnam and Nepal will be in sealed containers and in full rake only and the cost of transhipment will be borne by the consignor/consignee.
Visakhapatnam Port has the deepest container terminal among major ports with permissible draft of 15 metres and LOA up to 320 metres. Most of the transit cargo of Nepal will be from China. The terminal can act as an ideal gateway for east-bound cargo. Handling of cargo will be advantageous in terms of ocean freight and liner detention, export-import traders say.
A team headed by Dr. Mr. Somlal Subedi, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal, will be visiting Visakhapatnam on June 23 and 24. The team will interact with various stakeholders such as like the East Coast Railway, CONCOR, Customs, VCTPL, CII, liner and shipping agents associations.
India and Nepal signed the agreement recently to provide the additional transit facility to Nepal through the Visakhapatnam Port as second gateway port.
The agreement provides for transport of the cargo through the rail route connecting Visakhapatnam-Jogbani or/and Visakhapatnam-Birgunj. In addition to the rail route, four road routes have been identified.
The agreement facilitating transport of EXIM cargo through the Visakhapatnam Port is a historic milestone.
