(1)
Any person may apply for registration to the competent authority to carry on or commence the business of multimodal transportation.
(2)
An application under sub-section (1) shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by a fee of ten thousand rupees.
(3)
On receipt of the application, the competent authority shall satisfy that the applicant fulfils the following conditions, namely:—
(a) that the applicant is a company, firm or proprietary concern, engaged either in the business of shipping, or freight forwarding in India or abroad with a minimum annual turnover of fifty lakh rupees during the immediately preceding financial year or an average annual turnover of fifty lakh rupees during the preceding three financial years as certified by a Chartered Accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949);
(b) that the applicant has offices or agents or representatives in not less than two other countries,
(4)
A certificate granted under sub-section (3) shall be valid for a period of three years and may be renewed from time to time for a further period of three years at a time.
(5)
An application for renewal shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by such amount of fees as may be notified by the Central Government:
Provided that such fees shall not be less than rupees ten thousand and shall not exceed rupees twenty thousand.
(6)
The competent authority shall renew the registration certificate granted under sub-section (3) if the applicant continues to fulfil the conditions as laid down at the time of registration.