This lesson focuses on ICD and CFS, which are essential for freight movement, across countries.
With the liberalization of Indian economy, considerable growth in import and export volumes has taken place over the last two decades.
With the new modes of transportation, increase in international trade and containerisation, the ports were getting congested. Further, with widespread industrialization and economic growth, the imports for use in hinterland and exports originating from there have increased over time.
It was difficult for importers or exporters based in the hinterland, to come to a gateway port for clearance of imported or export goods. The development of multi-modal transport system with its stress on greater facilitation to importers/exporters, a need was felt to develop Inland Container Depots (ICDs) or Container Freight Stations (CFSs). These were to essentially function like a dry port.
An Inland Container Depot / Container Freight Station is a common user facility with public authority status equipped with fixed installations and offering services for handling and temporary storage of import/export laden and empty containers carried under customs control and with Customs and other agencies competent to clear goods for home use, warehousing, temporary admissions, re-export, temporary storage for onward transit and outright export.
Transhipment of cargo can also take place from such stations. The primary functions of ICD/CFS may be summed up as
- Receipt and dispatch/delivery of cargo.
- Stuffing and stripping of containers.
- Transit operations by rail/road to and from serving ports.
- Customs clearance.
- Consolidation and desegregation of LCL cargo.
- Temporary storage of cargo and containers.
- Reworking of containers.
- Maintenance and repair of container units