The Hindu Business Line : Paradip plans to double cargo handling capacity

New Dock system
Eight new berths would create an additional capacity of 16 mt
Captive route and the private-public partnership being examined for implementation of the schemes
Only the multipurpose berth to be constructed by the port departmentally

MR K. RAGHURAMAIAH

Kolkata , July 17

Paradip Port Trust (PPT) proposes to double its cargo handling capacity to 100 million tonnes by the end of the 11th Plan period (2011-12).

This is to be achieved through several measures such as the construction of a new dock system comprising eight berths on the western side of the existing central dock system and creation of additional facilities, both within the present dock system and outside of it, for handling bulk items, dry as well as liquid.

As Mr K. Raghuramaiah, Chairman of PPT, explained to Business Line, the construction of eight new berths in the proposed dock system would create an additional capacity of 16 mt, while the construction of a deep draught iron ore and coal berth within the present dock system another 20 mt and the commissioning of the single-point mooring about 20 km from the coastline into the sea will help the port handle an estimated 9 mt of crude traffic annually for the first time. He hoped that the deepening of the existing berth faces and the channel would help the port handle bigger vessels boosting the traffic throughput by an additional 5 mt or so.

"However, except the single-point mooring whose work is in progress and the dredging work for which bids have been invited, all other proposals are subject to the approval of the Union Government," he said.

The PPT Chairman indicated that various models such as the captive route and the private-public partnership (PPP) were being examined for implementation of the proposed schemes. Out of the eight berths in the proposed dock system, only one berth, the multipurpose berth, would be constructed by the port departmentally. The seven other berths, being planned to handle both bulk and non-bulk items like coal, coke and limestone containers, foodgrains and finished steel, might be constructed either through the captive route or the PPP.

PPT, the Chairman indicated, would welcome the captive route as several steel producing companies, setting up their units in the iron-ore belt of the State, had shown interest in having captive facilities in the port. "But then much would depend on the Union Government." It might be noted that out of present 14 berths of the port, two are already captive berths, one each operated by Paradeep Phosphates, a K K Birla Company, and by IFFCO that recently acquired Oswals' phosphatic fertiliser factory in the area.

Although PPT is planning to have 100 mt capacity by 2011-12, the actual volume of traffic throughput, it is felt, might be around 70 mt or so by that time. "In the port sector, 70 per cent capacity utilisation is considered good enough", the Chairman observed.

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