The Hindu Business Line : Mundra port on major expansion path

Development plans
Six new berths to have a draft of 17.5 metres, sufficient back-up area and bunkering facility
Two intermediate stations being added on the existing railway track
Project for a stacker-cum-reclaimer of 2,000 tonnes per hour of coal is proposed

GROWTH PLAN: A file photo of the port

Recently in Kutch

The country's well-known private port on the west coast at Mundra in Gujarat is in the process of implementing major expansion and developmentplans to facilitate larger traffic handling, loading/unloading, warehousing and movement into and out of the port.

As part of an expansion programme and to keep pace with rising volumes of import-export, Adani Port has doubled the number of berths in two years. From a six-berth, it has now expanded into a 12-berth port.

Adani Port expects to handle 27-28 million tonnes of cargo next year and 50 mt by 2010, officials said.

New berths

Expansion plans worth Rs 2,000 crore raised through internal accruals and debt instruments commenced two years ago for adding six news berths - both multipurpose as well as container terminals. These are designed to have a draft of 17.5 metres, sufficient back-up area and bunkering facility.

Of the four multi-purpose terminals (to handle both dry and liquid bulk cargo), two will be operational from the first quarter of 2007 and will have an initial draft of 12.5 metres that would be raised to 17.5 metres. Two berths have commenced operations from July and November 2006 with a draft of 17.5 metres.

The two new container terminals to be operated by the port will be operational from July 2007.

A second Single Point Mooring being planned is at an advance stage of discussion regarding the volume of crude oil to be handled. Necessary permission have been granted for its commissioning, which will have a draught of 32 metres to handle Very Large Crude Carriers. Open and warehoused backup area for storage of various commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar, deoiled cake, fertiliser and other dry non-perishable commodities measures 3,400 acres. This excludes backup area for containers.

To facilitate improved handling of traffic, two intermediate stations are also being added on the existing railway track. They will be ready in four months, the officials said.

Rail track

Studies for laying a second railway track between the port and Adipur (64 km) are being conducted and will be commissioned as a second phase of railway expansion plans.

In addition, the rail capacity will increase from current 22 rail movements to 35 to facilitate faster clearance of commodities from the port.

Mundra has its own loading/unloading yard and a 57-km rail link to Adipur, from where it is connected with the national rail network. This makes it the closest port by rail to northern India.

For better stacking and reclaiming handling of coal, a project for a stacker-cum-reclaimer of 2,000 tonnes per hour is proposed. Along with stacker-cum-reclaimer, in-motion wagon loading system for faster and more accurate loading is also considered.

Port officials are upbeat about the prospects of traffic expansion, which is likely to be aided by a SEZ (Mundra SEZ) coming up close by.