Operations resumed to full capacity at the containers terminals in Chennai Port Trust (CPT) after trailer drivers called off the strike on Monday evening, but the export-import industry is burdened with a much bigger issue of security threats at CPT.
The stakeholders including the Chennai Customs House Clearance Agents Association (Cchcaa), Container Freight Station officials, terminal operators, CISF and the CPT officials will meet on Wednesday to discuss traffic regulations and streamlining of import and export activities inside the port.
“The attempt to steal a container shows the real lack of security inside CPT. We have to find a solution to make the system foolproof,” said Mr A. V. Vijayakumar, president of Cchcaa.
He said the security agents have detected six to seven similar incidents of containers thefts in the last three months.
On Saturday, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) foiled an attempt to steal a container without proper documents from the CPT.
The police later seized the container and arrested four people related to the incident including the trailer driver.
“It was the first instance that we have arrested people and seized the vehicle on stealing charge. The CISF caught the vehicle with container inside the port gate itself. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to find it, ” said a police officer handling the case.
It may also be noted that the Chennai port has seen cases of fake driving licenses, fake passes and instances of lunatic people driving away brand new car kept for exports in the last one-year adding to its security woes.