Government to build 3200 MT port capacity by 2020

16 Jan 2012 Evaluate

In its bid to not only bring Indian ports on a par with the best international ports in terms of performance and capacity but also make it capable to handle the expected traffic of about 2500 million tonnes (MT) by 2020, the central government has embarked upon expanding capacity of Indian ports to 3200 MT by attracting investments to the tune of Rs 287,000 core. GK Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping opined that the government aims to enhance the current capacity of ports, which is little over 1,000 MT with 13 centre-owned major and about 200 non-major ports, on par with best global ports.

The Shipping Minister while addressing the valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Paradip Port Trust at Paradip in Odisha stated that it is the first major port on the East Coast commissioned after Independence which handled around 56 million metric tonnes of traffic during 2010-11 comprising of 31.22 million tonnes of import cargo and 24.81 million tonnes of export cargo. The Port had embarked upon an ambitious plan to enhance its capacity to 251 MMTPA by taking up several capacity addition projects, strengthening the rail-road connectivity, and mechanizing / modernizing the existing facilities to meet the requirement of industries.

The capacity of Paradip Port is expected to reach 251 million metric tonnes per annum by the year 2020, as some of the capacity addition projects under execution are deepening of channel to handle 1,25,000 DWT vessels at an estimated cost of Rs 293.36 crore, which is expected to create a capacity addition of 5 million tonnes per annum, construction of deep draught iron ore berth and coal berth on BOT basis at an estimated cost of Rs 1,070 crore, which would add a capacity of 20 MMTPA.

Some of the major projects that have been scripted for execution in the future include construction of western dock system at an estimated cost of Rs 2,822 crore which is envisaged to create a capacity of 75 MMTPA, mechanization of east quay at an estimated cost of Rs 917 crore, leading to a capacity addition of 14 MMTPA.

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