If the latest trend is any indication, the iron ore export through Paradip port, which dropped significantly in the past couple of years, appears set to rise again, though slowly. Iron ore is an important component of the port’s traffic. In April, the iron ore throughput was 4.63 lakh tonnes against 1.27 lakh tonnes in the same period a year ago. In April Paradip port posted total traffic growth of 42.74 per cent at 5.82 million tonnes, the highest among all major ports during the month. No wonder, the port authorities have started allotting plots to iron ore exporters for storage purpose.

As many as 20 bidders had responded to the port’s open tender inviting offers for 15 plots and finally five of them withdrew. It might be noted that the court cases involving 48 other iron ore plots allotted earlier are creating problems because unless these plots are vacated the work on two build-operate-transfer berths, one for iron ore and the other for coal, can not be started. The port authorities, it is learnt, are examining various options to start the work on the iron ore berth early and the options might include even inviting fresh bids as the response of the present successful bidder leaves much to be desired. The mechanisation of three berths, EQ 1, EQ 2 and EQ 3 through public-private-partnership, is receiving top priority, according to S.S. Misra, Chairman of Paradip Port. He indicates that preliminary level discussion in this regard is in progress with a few public sector companies. The acquisition of two mobile harbour cranes too is high on the agenda, he adds.

Related Topics