BS reported that cargo handling capacity is projected to be 14 million tonne per annum from the 0.55 million tonne envisaged for the first phase. It will have 5 berths including one exclusive berth for aluminium by 2011 and 10 berths by 2016. Similarly, the number of ship calls per day is projected to increase to 1,451 by 2016 from about 333 likely to be achieved by 2011.

According to official sources, the company submitted the detailed project report for developing an all weather port at Gopalpur having direct berthing facility to the Orissa government recently. Though INR 20 crore was proposed to be invested by GPL in the first phase, it has already spent about INR 78 crore on making the port functional.

During the second phase, the port will have facilities to handle export cargo of ilmenite sand, iron ore, thermal coal, bauxite, granite, steel coil, aluminium ingots and import cargo of fertilisers, aluminium powder, coal, coke, rock phosphate and foodgrain.

As per report, cargo handling capacity is projected to be 5.6 million tonne in the first year of operations and increase to 8.9 million tonne in the second year. Similarly, it is projected to have a cargo handling capacity of 9.3 million tonne in the third year and 13.5 million tonne in the fourth year. The final cargo handling capacity of 14 million tonne is likely to be achieved by the fifth year of the commissioning of the port.

(Sourced from Business Standard)