Gopalpur Ports rail linkage to be constructed by RVNL

Sunday, 27 May 2007

Exim News Service reported that the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd will construct a new 70 kilometer rail line to facilitate cargo movement to Orissas Gopalpur port. The INR 400 crore project is supported by Gopalpur Port Ltd and Dubai Aluminium Ltd.

Mr Churchit Mishra Director of OSL Group who operates the Gopalpur port on build, operate and transfer basis, told Exim News Service that the handling capacity of ports in Orissa would increase to nearly 150 million tonnes in 2 to 3 years as a number of industries were being established in the state. And GPL was quite assured of cargo, given its location proximity to cargo generating units.

Gopalpur Port, situated between Visakhapatnam and Paradip Ports on the east coast, is being jointly developed by a consortium comprising OSL Group, Sara International and the Hong Kong based Noble industries. It has already commenced cargo handling through barges at the existing minor port at Gopalpur. It is constructing a new port at a cost of around INR 2,000 crore which is projected to handle 11 million tonnes of cargo by 2009-10. According to the report, two berths would be established initially having a draught of 16 meters.