ICD & CFSInland Container Depots / Container Freight Stations (ICD / CFS) act as

hubs in the complete logistics chain. The Government of India has set up Inland Container Depots (ICD) where shipping formalities for

containerized cargo can be completed. Container Freight Stations (CFS) have been established to speed up exim trade and help small exporters,

whose consignments are less than container loads (LCL). CFSs help decongest Ports, which are growing exponentially.

INDUSTRY SCENARIO• With considerable increase in port traffic expected in the coming years and

with favourable investment in India’s port infrastructure more container freight stations need to be set up.• According to estimates, the world container throughput will reach 1 billion

TEUs by 2020, which is almost double of the current container traffic.• India is going to be the preferred destination for a global manufacturing hub.

This fact presents many opportunities for the ports to change their current operation style and be ready for the foreseen surge in demand of handling and faster evacuation of containers• With 13% of GDP being spent on logistics, India is still one of the most

inefficient .

INDUSTRY SCENARIO • The major ports such as Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT),

Visakhapatnam, and Mundra together have a capacity of 215 million metric tonnes (MMT).• According to the Ministry of Commerce, there are about 247 CFS/ICDs in

India and by far Tamil Nadu leads the list with 60 followed by Maharashtra (48) and Gujarat (33). APM Terminals Inland Services, Balmer Lawrie, Allcargo Logistics, Container Corporation of India are some of the leading operators of CFSs/ICDs in India.• Allcargo Logistics provides comprehensive multimodal transport solutions

and operations management as an integral part of its logistics services.

Some major Players  Major Players  

Allcargo Logistics Limited

Container Corporation of India Ltd. (Concor)

Gateway Distriparks Ltd ( GDL )

Sical Logistics Ltd Adani Agri Logistics Limited

Boxtrans Logistics India Services Pvt. Ltd.

  Central Warehousing Corporation

Value Chain

Difference Between CFS / OCD

FUNCTIONS• Receipt and dispatch/delivery of cargo.• Stuffing and stripping of containers.• Transit operations by rail/road to and from serving ports.• Customs clearance.• Consolidation and desegregation of LCL cargo.• Temporary storage of cargo and containers.• Reworking of containers.• Maintenance and repair of container units.

Operation1. Rail Siding (in case of a rail based terminal) : The place where container trains are received, 

dispatched and handled in a terminal. Similarly, the containers are loaded on and unloaded from rail wagons at the siding through overhead cranes and / or other lifting equipment.

2. Container Yard : Container yard occupies the largest area in the ICD.CFS. It is stacking area were the export containers are aggregated prior to dispatch to port, import containers are stored till Customs clearance and where empties await onward movement. Likewise, some stacking areas are earmarked for keeping special containers such as refrigerated, hazardous, overweight/over-length, etc. 

3. Warehouse : A covered space/shed where export cargo is received and import cargo stored/delivered; containers are stuffed/stripped or reworked; LCL exports are consolidated and import LCLs are unpacked; and cargo is physically examined by Customs. Export and import consignments are generally handled either at separate areas in a warehouse or in different nominated warehouses/sheds. 

4. Gate Complex : The gate complex regulates the entry and exist of road vehicles carrying cargo and containers through the terminal. It is place where documentation, security and container inspection procedures are undertaken.