The Hindu Business Line : `We are strong in efficiency and performance' — Mr P. T. Vanan, Chairman, New Mangalore Port Trust

New Mangalore Port, the single major port in Karnataka, is on the growth path. Among other major ports in India, the New Mangalore port is ranked second in terms of POL (petroleum, oil and lubricant) traffic.

Added to this, iron ore fines, coal and container cargo are making considerable contribution to the port's traffic. The new Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), Mr P. T. Vanan, spoke to Business Line about the future plans for the port and its development.

Excerpts from the interview:

What are your immediate plans for the development of the port?

There are several plans. Since New Mangalore is a growing port, we want to provide more facilities to our users. At present, the port has seven general cargo berths, of which one is a shallow one.

We want to deepen two general cargo berths to accommodate large parcel size vessels.

A deep-draft multipurpose berth to handle bulk commodities such as iron ore and coal is being constructed. It has been proposed to install mechanised facility under BOT (build, operate, transfer) scheme in this berth.

Now, we are manually handling iron ore cargo, and the mechanised system will help reduce the time delay in cargo handling and bring down pollution.

Under a master plan study carried out by the Indian Ports' Association, various actions have been proposed. They will have to be implemented in phases to promote handling facilities.

What steps will you take to increase container traffic?

Lack of rail connectivity with the hinterland is coming in the way of increasing container cargo.

It is a typical `chicken and egg' situation here. While the users want regular container ships to New Mangalore Port, vessel operators want enough cargo.

Karnataka has an inland container depot (ICD) at Whitefield in Bangalore. Most of the container cargo is diverted to Chennai because of the good railway infrastructure between Bangalore and Chennai.

Though container cargo is increasing at the port, the early commissioning of the Mangalore-Hassan railway line will further improve the situation.

A railway line will help in transporting iron ore from Bellary-Hospet region and diverting containerised cargoes such as textiles, readymade garments, engineering goods, food products, gherkins and pharmaceutical products — which are now moving from Bangalore ICD either to Chennai, Kochi or Tuticorin — to the New Mangalore Port.

What about the port's participation in road projects?

The port wants to participate in the conversion of national highway from Surathkal to B. C. Road into a four-lane highway as it touches NMPT. Once this project is completed, the congestion on the road will reduce.

The port wants to contribute Rs 20 crore under the first phase of the project.

Marketing plays important role in development, what will you do in this regard?

Efficiency and performance of the port are vital for marketing a port. New Mangalore port is very strong in these aspects. Now, we are conducting regular user meets in Mangalore, and planning to hold them in other centres in the hinterland.

Again, I feel that the early commissioning of the Mangalore-Hassan railway line will help the port in marketing.

Personally, I feel that coastal movement of cargo should be promoted to market any port.

Apart from being beneficial to the users, this will reduce pressure on rail and road infrastructure and definitely boost the traffic of the port.

Is there any plan to participate in the proposed coastal special economic zone (SEZ) in Mangalore?

We have made our own study on the SEZ. We are in favour of one in Mangalore, as it will bring more cargo to the port. We have held discussions with the State government on SEZ project. Soon, a consensus decision will be taken in this matter.

Any move to bring regular cruise ships to the New Mangalore Port?

We would like to build a passenger terminal for cruise ships in our port. In fact, the Union Shipping Minister, Mr T. R. Baalu, and the Union Tourism Ministry are interested in increasing cruise traffic in the ports.

Already, the Shipping Minister has held two meetings in this regard. Mangalore port is in favour of providing hassle-free tourism experience to the visiting tourists.

Tell us something about the `green environment' drive.

To make the port area eco-friendly, we have begun a massive tree plantation drive in the NMPT premises.

We want to have a green belt in and around the port so as to create a pollution-free environment.

We began the tree plantation programme on January 1 on the premises of our administrative office. We initiated this drive on the port premises on Republic Day.

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