Shifting of container depot is not a solution: V Kalyan Rama
V Kalyan Rama, Chairman and Managing Director, Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), talks to DNA’s Vatsala Shrangi about the disastrous May 6 gas leak. The government undertaking has a network of over 60 Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFSs), including the Tughlakabad ICD. After the incident, the issue of shifting of the depot from the area came into the focus. Also, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has received a plea to relocate the depot.
Why should the ICD not be shifted from Tughlakabad?
The leak affecting the school students was unfortunate. Shifting of the Tughlakabad ICD, however, is not a solution for many crucial reasons. Firstly, there is no threat to locals, as such. We have well-researched scientific tools to handle the containers. The gas leak took place after the containers had left the depot premises.
Secondly, it is a major depot, on which the rankings of India’s logistics performance is based. Shifting the ICD will create panic among international investors, which can have a wrong impact on the country’s image and business relations.
Last but not the least, we are developing a chain of ICDs in neighbouring regions, such as Ghaziabad and Najafgarh. For all these depots, the Tughlakabad …read more