Govt to Discontinue Import of Containers from China, will ask BHEL and Braithwaite to fill in

Continuing its efforts to tighten the noose around Chinese imports, the government is now set to gradually discontinue procurement of containers from China and instead rope in PSUs like Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Braithwaite & Co Limited to manufacture these carriers and give a boost to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Until now, Container Corporation (CONCOR) was importing about 10,000 containers in a year from China. At a high-level meeting held recently, it was decided that these orders will now be routed to BHEL and Braithwaite.

The government is also keen on encouraging other companies to develop the capacity for manufacturing containers within the country so that it does not have to depend on China for imports.

Braithwaite, BHEL to get orders for 1,000 containers

To set the ball rolling, the government has decided to give orders to BHEL and Braithwaite for manufacturing 1,000 containers each to begin with, a source aware of the development said. The person added that the government is keen on developing capacity for manufacturing containers within the country and is also ready to give a preference to Made-in-India containers even if they cost slightly more than Chinese containers.

BHEL and Braithwaite will initially be making prototypes that would be subjected to testing. Once the tests are cleared, mass production would begin, the source said.

The backdrop

In the aftermath of the Galwan standoff, India has decided to curtail imports from China, while placing a total ban on imports in critical sectors like power and telecom, as part of a wider response to Chinese aggression. Earlier in May, the government announced the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan under which it is trying to give a boost to domestic manufacturing across sectors and has also announced a number of policies to push procurement of goods with over 50 percent indigenous content and goods manufactured by domestic players.