Kandla Port records 2.85 pc growth

Kandla Port has handled a record throughput of 61.45 million tonnes during April-December 2010-11, as against 59.75 million tonnes during the corresponding period of 2009-10, thus achieving a growth of 2.85 per cent. This was against the national growth of 1.10 per cent by all Major Ports, according to Exim News Service.

There is a commendable increase of 9,000 TEUs in container traffic. ABG Kandla Container Terminal at the Port handled 1.16 lakh TEUs during the period, as against 1.07 lakh TEUs during April-December 2009-10.

Similarly, handling of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) products touched 36.04 million tonnes, as against 34.61 million tonnes, finished fertiliser products totalled 5.05 million tonnes, as against 4.17 million tonnes and coal handling rose to 2.23 million tonnes, as against 1.86 million tonnes.

The Kandla Port Trust (KPT) is in the process of building a railway line between Gandhidham and Tuna at a cost of Rs 27 crore. This will facilitate cargo handling at Tuna and Tuna Tekra. The proposal is under finalisation.

On receipt of approval from the Western Railway, KPT would deposit the amount with the Railways for carrying out the work, it is learnt.

It may be mentioned here that KPT has already awarded four multipurpose berths, Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 16, to private parties through global tenders under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
(Source:www.transportweekly.com)