Gateway Distriparks Kerala Limited (GDKL), a container logistics company with pan Indian presence, providing container freight station (CFS) and inland container depot (ICD) services, commenced full-scale CFS operations here on Tuesday.
GDKL is a subsidiary of Gateway Distriparks Ltd (GDL) and had started its operations in May 12, 2012.
The Vallarpadam Container Terminal and GDKL’s CFS will help promote EXIM trade in the region. The CFS, located opposite to ICTT, is spread across 6.5 acres.
The CFS has warehousing facilities measuring 10,000 sq ft and storage facilities for handling around 4,000 TEUs per month.
The CFS will continue to provide a separate area for the Customs authorities to inspect cargo on wheels. The combined facilities, along with the CFS’s proximity to ICTT, will primarily help in lowering the transaction costs for importers and exporters and strengthen trade.
GDKL, incorporated in 2006, is a joint-venture between GDL (60%) and Chakiat Group (40%). GDL is one of the largest players in the container logistics industry with CFSs at Mumbai, Chennai, Vizag and Kochi and rail-linked inland container depots (ICDs) near Gurgaon (NCR) and Ludhiana.
The Chakiat business group is engaged in shipping and related activities since 1952. Chakiat is also a shareholder of India Gateway Terminal (IGT) which operates the Vallarpadam International Transshipment Terminal.
The CFS was inaugurated by Gopinath Pillai, chairman, Gateway Distriparks Ltd., in the presence of Paul Antony, chairman, Cochin Port Trust, Commissioner of Customs K N Raghavan , former Secretary Shipping, Govt. of India, M P Pinto, and chairman of Gateway Distriparks (Kerala) Ltd.