UDON THANI: Efforts are under way to push for an inland container depot (ICD), known in the shipping industry as "a dry port'', to be developed in the northeastern province.
On Wednesday, a panel set up by the provincial governor held its first meeting to draw up a proposal for the project. The meeting was chaired by deputy governor Sithichai Chindaluang and attended by various agencies, representatives from the private sector, academics and investors in the provincial industrial estate.
A representative from the industrial estate pointed out the Udon Thani dry port development project has the support of the provincial and regional joint committees of the public and private sectors.
During a recent mobile meeting in Phetchabun, the cabinet agreed that any province can submit a proposal for an ICD development, although the investment would be made by the private sector.
Those at the meeting agreed that Udon Thani is well-equipped to begin the project immediately on a 594 rai site.
The location is near the Bangkok-Udon Thani railway, two kilometres away from Mittraphap Road, 13km away from the provincial international airport and 500km away from a port.
The panel will submit its proposal to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). The OTP has come up with a master plan to develop more inland container depots across the country to lessen cargo congestion and shift volume from trucks to railways.
These dry ports must be located near railway routes and provide services such as customs clearance offices. These dry ports will be used for container loading and storing.
The containers will be transported to the ports by train. Currently, most inland container depots are located near seaports and cargo is mostly hauled by trucks.