Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has handled 17 million tonnes (mt) of traffic in the first quarter of this fiscal (April-June 2013-14) compared with 11.74 mt in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, thus posting nearly 45 per cent growth.

According to PPT sources, the first quarter traffic throughput has also exceeded the target set for the period by 5.79 per cent.

The port is ranked at second position among all major ports in terms of both volume and percentage growth in traffic. In June alone, the throughput was 5.45 mt (3.63 mt), an increase of more than 50 per cent

During the quarter under review, iron ore (export) throughput was up 177 per cent at 1.03 mt (0.37 mt), thermal coal (coastal shipment) nearly 58 per cent at 6.84 mt (4.34mt), fertiliser raw materials (import) 45.12 per cent at 0.83 mt (0.57 mt), coking coal (import) 27 per cent at 1.59 mt (1.25 mt) and POL (import) up 24.5 per cent at 4.8 mt (3.76 mt).

The average turnaround time was up 11 per cent, average berth-day output four per cent and rail-borne traffic 53 per cent. Also, a record quantity of 1,76,924 tonnes of imported high-speed diesel were handled surpassing the previous record of 1,72,365 tonnes, the sources added.

santanu.sanyal@thehindu.co.in

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