The Hindu Business Line : Panel favours dedicated box terminal at Diamond Harbour

CONTAINER BOOST: (From left) Mr S. Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of India, Capt. P.V.K. Mohan, Member, National Shipping Board, Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust, and Mr Lukose Valliatharai, Joint Director General of Shipping, arriving to address a press conference in Kolkata on Monday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata June 11 The high-powered committee constituted by the shipping ministry on May 18 to examine ways and means to promote containerised traffic through Kolkata port (including Haldia) is in favour of a dedicated container terminal at Diamond Harbour, according to Capt P.V.K. Mohan, Chairman of the committee and also Member, National Shipping Board.

Addressing newspersons at the end of the committee's first meeting here on Monday, Capt Mohan emphasised the need for comprehensive policy for boosting containerised traffic through Kolkata port, more so to correct the present dwindling traffic at Haldia. "The potential is there to achieve more than 20 per cent growth on year-on-year basis as projected by the Planning Commission," Mr Mohan observed.

The Union Shipping Minister, Mr T.R. Baalu, as he pointed out, was keen that the east coast ports particularly Kolkata/Haldia achieved good progress in container handling. Right now the east coast ports accounted for a meagre 25 per cent of the country's total container throughput and the west coast ports 75 per cent. Such an uneven growth created a lot of problems, which must be resolved in right earnest.

The Government's present Look East Policy with accent with larger trade relations with South East and East Asian countries held out big promises for Kolkata/Haldia as the port was the gateway to a vast hinterland, also covering North-Eastern region and some neighbouring countries.

Look East Policy

The shortest route by sea to the South East Asian countries was from the east coast ports and Kolkata/Haldia had a distinct advantage in this regard. The opportunities provided by inland water transportation system should also be explored.

Mr S. Hajara, CMD of the Shipping Corporation of India, and a member of the committee, said the public sector shipping line's involvement in the eastern region in general and Kolkata/Haldia ports in particular had always been substantial and would continue to be so. "We're committed to this and we'll strengthen our outfit here as we will grow", Mr Hajara observed.

Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, pointed out that there was a scope for constructing five jetties at Diamond Harbour. However, the proposals for three jetties, all multi purpose, had been sent to the shipping ministry for approval.

In the light of the committee's recommendation, at least one of the three jetties could be converted into dedicated container terminal. The cost of three jetties was earlier estimated at Rs 360 crore; the construction of a dedicated container terminal might push up the cost by another Rs 100 crore or so, he added.

The other members of the committee, Mr Lukose Valliatharai, Joint Director General of Shipping, Capt L.K. Panda, Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, and Mr S.G. Thawani, Regional General Manager of SCI, Kolkata, were also present.

The committee members today visited Diamond Harbour location. On Tuesday they will visit Haldia. In July, they will meet the cross section of port users, shipping lines, port officers and others to seek their views on how to step up container traffic.

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