The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port's virtual jetty at Sagar to go on stream soon

KOLKATA Port Trust (KoPT) has launched a major programme to both strengthen port operations in new locations like Sagar Island and Sandheads, and also augment support facilities at existing sites like Kolkata and Haldia.

Participating in an interactive session organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), eastern region, here on Wednesday, Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman, KoPT, said the new Virtual Jetty at Sagar being built at a cost of Rs 6 crore by the port would be commissioned by the end of this month.

This would mark the beginning of a programme of planned activities at Sagar, where in principle it has been decided to set up a container terminal and a dock complex. This facility would give that necessary edge to the port operations, both at Sandheads and Kolkata, for additional traffic, leading to leveraging of the hitherto underutilised location in a big way.

On the proposed container terminal, he said a feasibility study will have to be taken up first. He said Concor was expected to begin work at the container terminal (for both international and domestic traffic) at KoPT in March.

Assuring exporters of the region that with possibilities of increased trade with China in the region, the port was gearing up now to change its image from a high cost facility to an affordable one. We are now ready to respond to individual exporter's needs for customised treatment, he pointed out.

On the cost rationalisation exercise which has been taken up, he cited the results being now achieved at the KoPT's dry docks, which has now emerged as the cheapest such facility in the country from being the costliest one some time back. There is an upswing in ship repair, and the workforce is cooperating fully, he added.

As part of an export facilitation measure, the chairman formally announced the setting up of a joint committee with FIEO and KoPT as nodal outfits and representatives of export houses, and Indian Railways as important elements to address the recurring problems of exporters, mainly with regard to port or Railway rakes on a periodic basis. He said KoPT, which can be identified as a port located in the northernmost part of the country, should have been the natural choice for traffic emanating from the land-locked northern states. All steps are now being taken to restore KoPT's original status as numero uno among the major ports, he pointed out. Dr Chanda said the port has emerged as number one during 2003 in terms of absolute growth. In January this year, we handled a record 4.32 million tonnes of traffic, and hope to do much more in the coming months.

Commenting on some of the new steps being proposed to give a leg up to eastern India's traditional export items like tea, Dr Chanda said a common programme was being launched with the tea exporters, in collaboration with Tea Board to set up a processing-flavouring-packaging facility at the port premises.

Highlighting the persisting problem of non-availability of railway rakes in adequate numbers, Mr S.K. Jain, regional chairman of FIEO, urged Dr Chanda to use his good offices to prevail upon the railway authorities to put rakes availability on tracks. Once this issue is resolved, exporters from the region opting for other ports would definitely like to bring their cargo back to Kolkata Port, leading to recovery of lost business for KoPT, he added.

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