The Visakhapatnam port has so far handled 57 million tonnes of cargo during the current financial year, 2 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, there was, however, a decline in dry bulk cargo by about 1.5 million tonnes during the year compared with last year.

He said the port had taken up various projects to augment its capacity. Mr Ajeya Kallam said that “Our proposed investment during the Twelfth Plan period is INR 8,231 crore, of which 55% 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.”

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 and Visakhapatnam Seaports Ltd another private operator for their performances.

The container traffic is expected to reach 230,000 TEUs in 2011-12, going by the present trend, he said. VSPL has so far handled four million tonne cargo in the current financial year.

(Sourced from BL)