Number of ports for import of new vehicles increased to 14

NEW DELHI: Government has increased the number of ports from 12 to 14 through which new vehicles can be imported, a move which would help in reducing pressure on ports and transactions cost of companies.

"Two new customs ports - Kattupalli Port and APM Terminals, Pipavav Port - are being added to the list of 12 existing ports/ICDs (inland container depot), thereby taking the total number of ports/ICDs to 14, for importing new vehicles," Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification.

New vehicles are imported through eight seaports, three airports, Mumbai Air Cargo Complex, Delhi Air Cargo, Chennai Airport, and three ICDs: Telegaon Pune, Tughlakabad and Faridabad.

The eight seaports include Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ennore, Cochin and Kattupalli.

India, a major hub of automobile manufacturing in the world, mainly imports high-end vehicles and parts.

The number of commercial and passenger vehicles imported into the country is small in number.

According to a media report, during the April-November period, 1,210 trucks and buses were imported into India.