The Tea Board has once again postponed the rollout of its web-based auction platform at Kolkata, pushing the launch from July 14 to Sale 31, scheduled for July 21-22, covering both dust and leaf teas, according to a trade notice.
Revised Schedule and Platform Readiness
The revised schedule applies only to the Kolkata auction centre for now. The rollout at the Coonoor auction centre has also been deferred to a later sale, with details to be communicated separately. Additionally, mock session schedules for Guwahati, Siliguri, Cochin, and Coimbatore auctions this week have been deferred. Until further orders, all auction centres have been asked to continue uploading catalogues concurrently on both the NSEIT portal and the Tradeforge platform.
| Centre | Original Live Date | Revised Date/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata | July 14 | Sale 31 (July 21-22) |
| Coonoor | July 2 | Deferred (later sale TBA) |
| Guwahati, Siliguri, Cochin, Coimbatore | This week's mock sessions | Deferred |
Industry Feedback and Core Committee Assessment
The decision to defer came after the Core Committee, comprising representatives nominated by tea trade associations across auction centres, reviewed mock sessions conducted at Kolkata and Coonoor. According to industry sources cited by The Hindu BusinessLine, the rollout has been deferred because "the software and several allied operational requirements are not yet fully ready to support live tea auctions with the level of reliability demonstrated by the existing NSEIT platform." The Core Committee concluded that the new platform is not yet ready for implementation, and it is prudent to address identified issues before going live to ensure seamless and uninterrupted auction operations.
The web-based platform was originally scheduled to go live in Kolkata on June 30 and Coonoor on July 2, but was rescheduled following discussions between the Tea Board and stakeholders.
Migration from NSEIT to Tradeforge Technologies
The new platform, developed by Tradeforge Technologies, is expected to provide a more user-friendly interface, stronger security, and better cost efficiency while retaining the existing auction mechanism and core processes. Industry sources noted that while the NSEIT platform had functioned effectively, the government appointed Tradeforge Technologies as the new service provider to develop and operate the auction system. The migration is expected to improve transparency and operational efficiency, leading to better price realisation.
For commodity traders and procurement teams tracking tea auctions, the delay means continued reliance on the existing NSEIT platform for now, with the transition to Tradeforge Technologies' system pushed back. The Tea Board has not yet provided a revised timeline for Coonoor or other centres, leaving uncertainty for market participants who had anticipated a smoother migration. The deferral underscores the challenges in implementing new auction technology in India's fragmented tea market, where multiple auction centres operate with varying volumes.
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