The Nhava Sheva Container Operators’ Welfare Association (NSCOWA) and the Maharashtra Heavy Vehicle and Interstate Container Operators’ Association (MHVICOA), the two major associations of the truckers with about 470 members have decided to boycott taking trucks both to and from the Gateway Terminals which is operated by APM Terminals Management at Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai. Mr. Pravin Paithankar, President of MHVICOA, said that the trucks had to stand in a long queue of about 7-8 kilometers before they found entry into the gate. The long wait deprived them of more business and income. A spokesperson for JN port rightly observed: “The longer they wait, the less business they can do. The truckers get paid for each container they move from the nearby CFS to the terminal run by Gateway and back”. Defending the Gateway Terminals, a spokesman for the Terminals said: “There is no detention at the gates. The problem is outside the gates. Unfortunately, Gateway Terminals is not in control of what is happening outside the gates. It is fully a traffic cops’ problem”.The fact remains that there is an unavoidable delay for the truckers to enter the gates which affects them seriously. The authorities concerned must act quickly to find a solution to the problem less the Gateway Terminals will lose a considerable share in the trade. In 2011-12, Gateway Terminals handled about 1.89 million standard containers.
A danger foreseen is half avoided; a danger eliminated is achievement guaranteed.
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