Trailers stranded off Chennai port

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The ongoing works on Ennore-Manali road have affected trailer movement to Chennai port.

With vehicles stranded for about 20 kilometres from Chennai port till Infant Jesus Shrine in Manali New Town on Friday, the trade calls for better roads and proper facilities while the trailer owners argue for reducing exports.

“It takes a minimum of two nights and two days to make a round trip to Chennai port and the drivers are really fed up. We have seen 20 per cent of drivers quitting work last year,” said S.R. Raja, president of Trailers Owners Association.

He said the current trouble could be avoided by reducing the number of export declaration forms per day. “Why should we make our drivers wait for hours together with fully loaded cargo,” he quipped.

While industry members agreed that instead of eight hours, it was now taking 24-hours on an average to reach Chennai port from the container freight stations, they also believed that things could be improved with better roads and upgraded facilities at the port.

“The proposed gate complex should come up fast at the port. There should also be more customs preventive officers and law enforcement authorities at the gate,’ said a senior official in one of the container terminals. He said the delay in completing Chennai Ennore port road connectivity project was taking its toll on the industry.

A.V. Vijayakumar, president of Chennai Customs House Clearance Agents Association, said the port has seen five-fold increase in container traffic in the last ten years, but it has been severely hampered by lack of proper roads and connectivity issues.