New Delhi: Diversified conglomerate Essar’s request for an additional gate at its engineering SEZ at Hazira, Gujarat has been referred to the empowered group of ministers (EGoM) after objections were raised by the finance ministry.

The board of approval (BoA) in the commerce ministry had allowed only two gates one for inter-carting and transporting and the second for personnel and other movements.

However, after the request by Essar, the board had “permitted the developer to operate the third gate on a temporary basis” till 31 May.

The company wants an additional “product gate” for the movement of hot sponge iron from the SEZ unit for consumption outside the tax free haven.

The revenue department is not in favour of an additional gate as monitoring would become a problem.

“After deliberations, as the issue could not be resolved at the BoA level, it was decided that commerce department would place the issue before EGoM for a decision,” sources said.

Essar’s request was also taken up in the BoA held in February but it was deferred.