"Dry ports to boost India's trade" :: business-standard.com
The Union government is considering a pact with neighbouring countries for development of dry ports, to global standards. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) is trying to help Asian countries reach an agreement. A dry port is an inland terminal directly connected by rail or road to a sea port, providing services for handling, temporary storage, inspection and customs clearance for international freight. India has 155 places so notified, with 89 in the development stage. In the north, Tughlakabad (Delhi) and Dadri (Uttar Pradesh), already functioning as inland container depots (ICDs), could be integrated with dry ports in Pakistan. Similar integration could be had for Mulund in Mumbai and another in south Bangalore. “Such ports will be connected through roads and railways, resulting in development of infrastructure in these corridors. This will bring down cost for traders and provide them greater access to international markets, there...