The Visakhapatnam port has so far handled 57 million tonnes (mt) of cargo during the current financial year, two million more than during the corresponding period last year, and is confident of achieving the target of 67 million tonnes, set by the Ministry, according to the port Chairman, Mr Ajeya Kallam.

While speaking here at the Republic Day function, he said there was, however, a decline in dry bulk cargo by about 1.5 mt during the year compared with last year.

Capacity expansion

He said the port had taken up various projects to augment its capacity. “Our proposed investment during the Twelfth Plan period is Rs 8,231 crore, of which 55 per cent comes through the private sector. Five projects have been awarded under the public-private partnership mode in the Visakhapatnam port and four of them are in progress. Three more similar projects will be awarded by March,” Mr Ajeya Kallam said.

He said the port was going ahead with the introduction of modern cargo handling techniques to improve its performance and was also developing the road network in tandem with the National Highways Authority of India.

He also congratulated Visakha Container Terminal Private Ltd (VCTPL) and Visakhapatnam Seaports Ltd (VSPL), another private operator, for their performances.

The container traffic is expected to reach 2.3 lakh TEUs in 2011-12, going by the present trend, he said. VSPL has so far handled four mt cargo in the current financial year.

He said the Ministry was considering relaxation of Cabotage Law restricting movement of cargo along the coast.

He said the Visakhapatnam port had bagged the “Major port of the year” award recently in the India Maritime Week held in New Delhi.

>vzchs@thehindu.co.in

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