MANSA meets Mr. A. K. Kaushal, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Zone I, Mumbai on 18-02-2013

Mr. K. P. Unnikrishnan, President and the new Executive Committee of MANSA met Mr. A. K. Kaushal, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Zone I on 18th February 2013 and warmly welcomed him with a flower bouquet on his assuming office as Chief Commissioner of Customs, Zone I.

The Chief Commissioner thanked the MANSA Team for their courtesies and inquired about the present trade pattern and expected cargo through put through Mumbai Port .and the ways to improve the Traffic.

President MANSA briefly explained the past glory of the Port and why it could not retain its prestigious position over a period due to changes in the trend of vessels' categories/sizes vis-a-vis slow, inadequate and incapable Port infrastructure and its developments. The MANSA Team surmised that there may be increase in container traffic once the OCT is commissioned may be in the year 2014.

Chief Commissioner is also quite keen to look in to the proposal at once on its submission by MBPT to notify the OCT without any delay, enabling the Trade to use this facility for handling other commodities till the necessary container equipments are installed by the operator.

Further, when Chief Commissioner inquired whether ships are facing any deterrents in the Port as the number of arrivals of ships also is showing downward trend, the President took the opportunity to explain difficulties in conversion of ships to coastal trade and other issues of lack of co-ordination between Port & Custom and users. for optimal utilization of existing facility at Mumbai port .

The Chief Commissioner assured to look into the issues closely and see what remedies can be introduced for rectification or to bring the systems in par with other Ports at the most,

The discussions ended most cordially with thanks being extended profusely.

K. P. Unnikrishnan
President