Paradip port posted 26.68 per cent growth in traffic at 38.73 million tonnes (mt) between April and October against 30.58 mt handled in the same period last year, according to PPT sources.
With this, the port continued to occupy the second position among major ports in terms of volume handled as well as rate of growth.
What is significant is that this growth was achieved despite the devastation caused by the cyclone Phailin in October when the port handled 4.62 mt (4.95 mt).
During the period under review (April to October), the port’s thermal coal traffic throughput increased 34 per cent to 14.62 mt (10.92 mt), POL 12.88 per cent to 10.65 mt (9.44 mt), iron ore 159.56 per cent to 2.89 mt (1.11 mt), coking coal 24.4 per cent to 3.69 mt (2.97 mt) and other cargo 26.42 per cent to 4.74 mt (3.75 mt). Railborne traffic jumped 39 per cent.
Improvement was also recorded in terms of other parameters like average turnaround time and average berth-day output, the sources added.
santanu.sanyal@thehindu.co.in