India Advocates for Unrestricted Commercial Shipping Movement
CONCOR Opts for Existing Lease Regime
The Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) has chosen to maintain its current land lease agreements with Indian Railways, foregoing the newly introduced liberal licensing policy. This policy, approved by the Union Cabinet, offers reduced lease charges of 1.5% of the land's market value compared to the existing 6% with annual escalation.
Switching to the new regime would require CONCOR to bid for the 26 terminals it operates on railway land. Despite having the right of first refusal if they are not the highest bidder, this introduces potential competition and uncertainties. Chairma..
40% of Vehicles Uninsured: Centre
The Indian government has disclosed to the Supreme Court that 40% of vehicles on the country's roads are not insured, posing significant risks and financial burdens. This revelation highlights a critical issue in traffic management and road safety. Non-insured vehicles complicate accident claims and legal processes, potentially leaving victims without adequate compensation.
The government is considering stricter enforcement of existing laws and increased public awareness campaigns to address this problem. Enhanced collaboration between insurance companies and the transport department ..
NHAI Launches Highway Maintenance Units
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set up dedicated units to focus on the maintenance and safety of national highways. This move aims to ensure the regular upkeep of roads, addressing common issues such as potholes, damaged signage, and overall road quality. By prioritising maintenance, NHAI seeks to enhance driving safety and reduce the incidence of accidents on the highways.
These specialised units will be responsible for the systematic inspection and timely repair of highways, ensuring that road conditions are consistently optimal for travellers. The initiative refl..
Raw Material Supply to RINL from Gangavaram Port Resumes
After a hiatus of over a month, the supply of raw materials from Adani Gangavaram Port to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has resumed. The disruption, caused by worker agitation at the port, had severely impacted RINL?s operations, which rely heavily on coking coal to manufacture steel.
RINL, based in Andhra Pradesh and one of India's top steel producers, faced significant operational challenges due to the lack of this critical raw material. The company had sought intervention from the Andhra Pradesh government to resolve the issue and ensure the resumption of coal supplies. The p..
Indian container cargo set to expand by 8% in FY25 amidst Red Sea crisis
CareEdge Ratings forecasts that Indian container cargo volume will experience an 8% growth, reaching 342 million tonnes (mt) in FY25. They also anticipate the risk of a prolonged Red Sea crisis. In a sectoral report, the agency mentions that the connection of the Dedicated Freight Corridor to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in FY26, coupled with capacity expansions by ports, will likely propel the growth in container volumes in the medium term. According to the report, significant adverse movements in charter rates affecting cargo volumes, as well as vessel additions by shipping lines, will..