Visakhapatnam port gets electronic tool for tracking cargo

A GPS based Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) for goods which are being exported to Nepal has been launched by the Customs authorities at the Visakhapatnam port.

The tool would help in cutting the time duration of goods shipment from 3 months to two weeks. The GPS tool will also help in reducing the tampering of the cargo.

Commissioner of Customs, DK Srinivas, said, ” “It is a great development for movement of goods transshipped from Visakhapatnam to Birgunj rail route.” He also mentioned that depending on the work of the tool, the equipment would be used at other places too.

“Visakhapatnam port had so far handled 10,355 containers for the land-locked country. Unlike the present practice of obtaining eight documents by Nepal-based importers, the new procedure, again a first in the country, allows the filing of single transshipment declaration by the shipper/carrier”, mentioned Srinivas.

Now, Visakhapatnam has been declared as the second gateway port to export and import cargo with Nepal, the first being Kolkata-Haldia port.