FPS opens another Indian container station

by Press Release on 2013-02-20

LCL Logistix – the Indian member of the FPS network of independent forwarders and NVOCCs – has opened its third container freight station (CFS) in Haldia, near Kolkata Port on India's east coast. The new facility and all of its equipment is owned outright by LCL.

The new base has an annual capacity of 25,000 TEU, and its facilities are designed to comply with the requirements of India's largest and most discriminating industrial shippers. LCL's Haldia CFS employs 24 newly-recruited staff under the management of  Partha Bhadury, Deputy General  Manager, who reports to the  head of the group's logistics division.

Haldia is being hailed as a fast-emerging industrial location for West Bengal and the entire eastern region of India, and as a new gateway to south-east Asia. Government initiatives are helping to make Haldia one of the country's fastest-growing urban-industrial centres.

Meanwhile Haldia's port is establishing a reputation for speed and efficiency through its use of modern, integrated operating procedures and automation; congestion has been minimised and vessel turn-rounds speeded up. Haldia Port enjoys excellent connections with its hinterland by road, rail and waterways, and further upgrading will take its current capacity of 38 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes per annum within the next two years.

LCL's Haldia CFS is its third in India, following on from the opening of highly-successful bases in Pipavav (Gujarat) and Nhava Sheva (Maharashtra). Says Jaison George,  LCL’s Director – Logistics: "The new Haldia CFS is the next milestone in LCL Logistix's journey into total logistics and supply chain management solutions. It is a state-of-the-art facility, with excellent connections to Kolkata Port and the Haldia Dock complex, and highway links that enable fast movement of containers to and from other  ports and industrial centres."

He continues: "The CFS segment is one of the fastest- growing elements in the Indian logistics chain, due to rapidly-rising container traffic through the ports, fuelled by India’s strong economy. LCL Logistix is aggressively strengthening its presence in the value chain by adding resources such as this CFS.

"We aim to capitalise on India’s strong macro-economic fundamentals which are piloting growth in the entire logistics and supply chain sector. This new facility will continue our move into higher-yield activities, expand the revenue streams of the company and strengthen our business through diversification."

LCL's foray into CFS operations has been driven by Jaison George's vision of LCL as a broad-based logistics service provider. Prior to his current position, he was in charge of the company’s operations in North India, where he increased the scope of its services.  Before joining the new LCL business in 1999, he worked for Maersk Line at various locations in India, and gained extensive experience  across various departments. He holds a BSc and an MBA.

http://www.lcllogistix.com/