Kamarajar port in Ennore has reported an 83 per cent increase in net profit at ₹316 crore for the financial year ending March 31, 2014, against ₹173 crore in the previous year.
Revenue increased by 57 per cent at ₹502 crore (₹320 crore).
The improved performance was due to a 53 per cent increase in cargo traffic at 27 million tonne (18 million tonne).
At present, the port has six berths with the capacity to handle 30 million tonnes per annum. Speaking at a trade meeting organised by KPL and the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bhaskarachar said the port received a record 689 ships in 2012-13 against 475 ships in the previous year.
Sets record The port also set another record by handling 2.01 lakh automobiles, a 45 per cent increase over the previous year, he said.
He said the port has signed agreements/memorandum of understanding and award of work for the development of terminals/berth at a total investment of ₹6,300 crore.
For the year 2013-14, the port plans to spend ₹587 crore on projects such as procurement of salt land, capital dredging, road and rail connectivity, he said.
Hiroyuki Yanagida, Vice-President, SCM, Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd, urged Kamarajar port to have facilities such as washing machines to clean the cars and additional parking space.
R Senthil Kumar, General Manager, Corporate Planning and Business Development of Kamarajar port, said there is a plan to create an additional parking yard for nearly 5,000 vehicles. The port will also consider the need for a washing machine. Most of the users in the meeting urged better road and rail connectivity to the port.
Senior officials of the port assured the trade members that a number of projects for both road and rail are being undertaken.
Container terminal Adani Ports will start work on a new container terminal at Kamarajar port in two months, according to Bhaskarachar.
The port has signed a concession agreement with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Pvt Ltd for developing the ₹1,270-crore terminal on design, built, finance, operate and transfer basis.
The company has offered a 37 per cent revenue share.