Connectivity between major ports in the East and West coasts linking ICTT Vallarpadam has become a reality with the starting of a coastal container service.

Shreyas Shipping Service has introduced Pan India Express, a bi-weekly service, by deploying a 1700 teu vessel connecting all the major East Coast ports to ICTT.

The company already has a regular service to ICTT from all West Coast ports.

A senior port official told Business Line that connectivity to other Indian ports from ICTT was a main shortcoming with the emergence of ICTT. This is because the nascent Indian coastal container shipping business with a presence of 11 operational vessels do not provide sufficient linkage to the ICTT, prompting the Shipping Ministry to extend Cabotage waiver to the terminal in December last year, he said.

However, this is the first time East Coast ports from Kolkatta and West Coast ports to Mundra are connected by transhipping at Vallarpadam.

With the connectivity established between Vallarpadam and other Indian ports, mainliners will now find it viable in meeting their transhipment needs from the Indian subcontinent.

The new service will also enable the trade to move containers by sea at more economical rates than by road, reducing congestion and saving on fuel