Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd (Kper centL) has registered 25 per cent growth in total cargo handled during the financial year ended March 31, 2018 at 45 million tonnes as against 36.10 million tonnes in the previous year.

There was a `record’ 88 per cent rise in the number of containers it handled at 4,81,408 TEUs (2,55,439 TEUs).

The average growth rate of cargo handled clocked by major Indian ports was 4.79 per cent.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Friday, its Director and CEO Anil Yenduluri said the number of vessels visiting the port rose by 22 per cent to 1290 (1061 previous year). Coal, Iron ore and Granite dominated the cargo portfolio handled.

Expansion

“We are entering the 10th year of operations and Kper centL is now the second largest port in India and is poised to become eastern gate way of India,” he said.

Kper centL is on the verge of completing it’s second phase of expansion which takes it capacity from current 80 million tonnes to over 100 million tonnes. The company had invested Rs 8000 crore in the first and second phases so far.

“After the completion of the second phase, we will finalise plans for the third phase including fund raising needs,” he said.

The port has planned a total investment of $3 billion of which 1.23 billion has already been invested for development till date with second phase of expansion under way.

It is aiming to achieve an impressive 52 MMT in Bulk and 2 Lakh TEU in Containers this fiscal.

Vinita Venkatesh, Director, Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal said the port was offering a new service for integrated solutions under ‘Ocean2Door’. The service will soon be offered online as well.