Title - Exim Club demands increase in rail frequency

Stressing the need of better infrastructure in the growth of the import-export activities, the Exim Club of Vadodara has asked the government to increase the train services to Mundra and Pipavav ports.   At present, a weekly train from Ahmedabad runs between the Mundra Port in Kutch district and Pipavav Port in Amreili district. The exporters and importers from Vadodara have also asked Jayant Parimal, commissioner (trade and commerce) to look into the matter.   “In a month, over 30,000 containers move in and out of Gujarat. Out of that, about 70 per cent of exports are routed through neighbouring states, Mainly Maharashtra. This causes logistic complexity for the exporters and importers,” said Haresh Shah, a leading exporter.   “Increase in the number of trains towards Mundra and Pipavav ports increases, will give the state-based exporters an impetus to utilise local ports. This will also reduce the response time. Moreover, more trains means more revenues for the state government,” said Ketan Mehta, president, Exim Club.   Meanwhile, the Trade and Commerce Commissionerate has decided to bring the concern parties on a common platform. “The state government is interested in providing better logistic opportunity to the foreign traders. We have decided to call representatives of Container Corporation of India (Concor), railway and Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to discuss the issue,” said Parimal.   The Commissionerate has also conveyed the concerns of the exim community to H K Das, vice-chairman of GMB, state’s nodal agency for port sector.   In another development, the Commissionerate has lend its support to the Exim Club’s demand for developing an international convention centre in Vadodara. Piramal has also written to the District Collector demanding his assistance.   “It is a first step in fulfilling the demand of the Vadodara-based industries,” said Parimal.   The Commissioner has asked for a minimum of 50 acre of land for the project to be developed in the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.   “The proposed international convention centre will be utilised for the trade-related activities such as improvement in dialogues with the foreign counterparts,” said Mehta, the president of Exim Club.