If your cargo lands at JNPT or Mundra and your destination is Delhi NCR, you have a choice: clear customs at the seaport and rail/road the cleared cargo, or rail-onward as in-bond cargo to ICD Tughlakabad / Dadri and clear there.
The case for ICD clearance
- Last-mile haulage is shorter and cheaper
- Rail-haul cost is bundled in shipping line tariff for ICD-routed BoLs
- Customs queries can be handled in your home time zone
- BIS, FSSAI and CDSCO offices have ICD presence at TKD
The case for direct seaport clearance
- Time-critical cargo — you save the rail-haul leg (2–3 days)
- Oversized or ODC cargo that won't fit a standard rail-set
- You're an AEO-T1+ importer doing DPD at JNPT
- Your end-buyer is in Mumbai/Pune/Gujarat (no NCR last-mile to save)
Cost comparison — typical ranges
| Cost head | JNPT direct | ICD TKD via rail |
|---|---|---|
| Customs clearance fee | ≈ same | ≈ same |
| Rail-haul to NCR | Charged separately | Bundled in shipping tariff |
| Last-mile to factory | 1,400 km road | 30–60 km road |
| CFS charges | Yes (unless DPD) | No |
| Total dwell time | Shorter | +2–3 days |
The verdict for most NCR importers
For 90% of Delhi-NCR-bound consignments, ICD clearance at TKD or Dadri wins on total landed cost. The exceptions — time-critical, oversized, or AEO-DPD-eligible — are real but specific. Don't default to one or the other; model both per consignment.
Need a routing recommendation? Send us the commodity, value, sailing port and destination — we'll model both pathways with full landed cost.