Panaji, Goa: The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), organised an interactive Traders’ Meet at the Verna Railway Station Goods Shed to promote rail-based freight movement and strengthen engagement between the railway authorities and Goa’s business community.
The meeting brought together industry stakeholders, freight customers, logistics partners, importers, exporters, and traders to create awareness about the facilities available at the Verna Goods Shed while providing a platform to discuss operational challenges and identify opportunities to improve freight services.
The session was jointly chaired by Chandrakant Gawas, Chairman of the GCCI Logistics Committee, Dileep Bhat, Divisional Railway Commercial Manager (DRCM), Konkan Railway, and Wilson Vaz, Station Superintendent, Konkan Railway.
Representing GCCI were Mario Furtado, Member of the GCCI Logistics Committee, Sanket Kaskar, Foreign Trade Officer, GCCI, and Mangirish Bhende. Representatives from the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) also participated in the discussions.
Promoting Rail Freight for Sustainable Logistics
Konkan Railway officials highlighted the infrastructure and operational facilities available at the Verna Railway Station Goods Shed, encouraging industries, exporters, importers, and traders to utilise rail transport for cargo movement.
Officials emphasised that greater use of rail freight would reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency, and contribute towards more sustainable transportation.
Industry Voices Operational Concerns
The interactive session witnessed active participation from members of the trade and logistics sectors, who welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with railway authorities.
Participants discussed several operational challenges while offering practical suggestions aimed at improving freight handling efficiency at the Verna Goods Shed.
CWC Tariff Charges Discussed
One of the major concerns raised by traders was the comparatively high tariff charged by the Central Warehousing Corporation for warehousing and cargo handling services.
Responding to the issue, CWC representatives suggested that the trade community submit a joint representation to higher authorities requesting a review of the existing tariff structure. They also indicated that a commitment towards assured cargo volumes would strengthen the proposal for tariff rationalisation.
Quarterly Meetings Proposed
Concluding the meeting, GCCI Logistics Committee Chairman Chandrakant Gawas proposed that similar interactive meetings be organised every three months to ensure continuous dialogue between railway authorities and industry stakeholders.
He noted that regular engagement would help address operational issues more effectively, improve stakeholder confidence, and encourage greater utilisation of the Verna Goods Shed.
Both GCCI and Konkan Railway assured participants that the concerns and suggestions raised during the meeting would be taken up with the appropriate authorities for further action.
The initiative reflects GCCI’s continued efforts to strengthen Goa’s logistics ecosystem by promoting efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective freight transportation through enhanced industry-government collaboration.
Discover more from Allycaral
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
