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--------------------------------------- MPT registers growth in traffic --------------------------------------- The Mormugao Port Trust which achieved significant performance in handling traffic during last financial year, today announced its extension plan for increasing the port capacity, proposing construction of a cruise-cum-container terminal at Baina Bay to cater to the needs of international cruise liners.
The MPT's officiating chairman, Mr C Venkatachalam said that the port authorities have shortlisted three firms for construction of cruise-cum-container terminal towards the Headland Sada's end of Baina. The MPT is expecting to get the offer from these firms within next three months and terminal will be completed in three years after awarding the work order.
Holding the annual press meet, Mr Venkatachalam said that the MPT has also proposed to modernise berths, put up additional berths at Vasco Bay, replace equipment of state-of-art at the mechanized ore handling plant, introduce wagon-handling system to bring iron ore from hinterland regions, install mechanised dust control system to avoid dust pollution.
The MPT plans to spend Rs 800 crore in its expansion programme during next ten years. Explaining about the annual performance of the Mormugao port, Mr Venkatachalam said the traffic registered a record figure of 30.66 million tonne, which he said was highest ever achieved. The traffic registered 7 per cent higher than the target of 28.78 tonne set by the ministry and 10 per cent higher than the previous year traffic which was 27.87 million tonne, he said.
The major share of traffic was iron ore (24.72 million tonne), constituting 81 per cent, followed by coal (3.71 million tonne), POL (1.46 million tonne) and other cargo like fertilizers, alumina, steel colls, which constituted 0.77 million tonne. The container traffic was 10386 TEUs.
Stating that iron ore being the major commodity, Mr Venkatachalam said the export of iron ore to China has registered an all time high of 12.73 million tonne followed by export to Japan (6.5 million tonne). He said the port has achieved improvement in performance of cargo handling compared to the previous year.
The berth-day output went up from 16,746 tonne to 17,084 tonne, while the average pre-berthing waiting time reduced to 1.05 days from 1.11 days.
The MPT during the last financial year generated the income amounting to Rs 223.20 crore and incurred an expenditure of Rs 191.25 crore, thereby earning the net surplus of Rs 31.95 crore.
Stating that there was a demand for creating infrastructure for international cruise liners at Mormugao port, Mr Venkatachalam said several international cruise liners had approached the port authorities for granting berthing permission. He said recently a domestic cruise liner Straw Cruise Liner has given a proposal to operate cruise liner between Mumbai, Goa and Lakshadweep island.
He said the project would be constructed with private participation on BOOT basic at an estimated of Rs 185 crore. Nearly ten hectares of land along the coast will be reclaimed for providing various facilities, he informed.
However, he said during the intervening period the MPT would make necessary arrangement for handling cruise liners at berth number 10. In all 11 international cruise liners visited the port during the year.
Mr Venkatachalam said since India has been projected as major tourist destination in Asia the government of India has asked the ports to develop facilities for handling cruise liners at Mumbai, Mormugao, Mangalore, Cochin and Chennai.
Regarding the four-lane road project, Mr Venkatachalam said the road work will be completed after the national highway authority rehabilitates the settlement along the road between Varunapuri junction to Mormugao. He said only five kms stretch was remaining to be completed.
During the year private berth 5A and 6A had been commissioned and it had handled a quantity of 2.10 million tonne of coal.
To a question, Mr Venkatachalam said traffic at MPT was growing at ten per cent. He said in order to enhance the efficiency and improve loading capacity of the mechanised ore handling plant (MOHP), the port has decided to carry out major modifications to the plant during the ten years plan in phased manner, which involves replacement of barge unloader, installation of additional stacker with additional line, replacement of one each bucker wheel reclaimer and ship loader and two stackers. -------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 6/4/05 page 1 --------------------------------------------
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