Tk 300cr logistics yard set for launch

A view of the inland container depot of KDS Group in Sitakundo.

KDS Group, a leading apparel and accessories maker, is set to launch a Tk 300 crore logistics yard in Chittagong to provide off-dock services, Khalilur Rahman, chairman of the group, said yesterday.
KDS Logistics Ltd that claims to be the biggest inland container depot (off-dock), located in Sitakundo, will come on stream on March 21.
The latest arrival will take the number of private off-dock operators to 14 in a Tk 1,000 crore sector.
KDS expects Tk 80 crore in annual turnover from logistic business.
"If everything goes according to plan, we expect to break even in five years," MA Quiyum, executive director of KDS Logistics, told The Daily Star.
KDS Logistic started trial operations with empty containers on June 18, 2008.
"Our vision is to be a leading global logistics enterprise, distinguished by the quality of its services," Quiyum said.
The off-dock facility is spread over 14, 65,600 square feet and designed to handle both empty and laden containers.
Quiyum said the inland container facility has a laden container yard area of 2,22,400 square feet, empty container yard space of 6,52,600 square feet, warehouse space of 1,60,000 square feet, jute shed and import space of 14,000 square feet, office buildings space of 36,000 square feet, workshop space of 12,500 square feet and truck parking area of 52,500 square feet.
The facility has a capacity to stack laden containers of 3,420 TEUs (twenty equivalent units). It can also stack empty containers at a capacity of up to 21,168 TEUs, he said.
According to an estimate, the facility can store 10,000 TEUs in off-dock capacity on any given day.
KDS Logistics aspires to provide an assortment of storage programmes and services to customers and to offer a one-stop solution for storage, repair, transportation or handling of chassis.
KDS Logistics is located on a 40-acre site and paved, fenced and lighted to Chittagong Custom specifications, computerised inbound/outbound, provides activity reports and daily site inventory, gate interchanges and damage assessment.
Quiyum said it is equipped with high-speed internet to provide real-time cargo information.
The inland container depot (ICD) is equipped with modern fire fighting equipment, CCTV, standby power generation (650KV) and other necessary cargo and container handling equipment.
He said the company is facilitated to know the real time tracking system for truck unloading/loading, container stuffing/un-stuffing and web access to check client cargo position check, as per requirements.
Bangladesh handles 25,000 TEUs a month in export business. In import business, the private off-dock operators handle 10,000 TEUs out of the total 50,000 TEUs a month.
Shipping Minister Afsarul Amin is scheduled to inaugurate the state-of-the art off-dock yard. Other ministers and elected MPs are also expected to be present.
reefat@thedailystar.net