The Visakhapatnam port, performing very well during the current year, has handled 15.6 million tonnes of cargo during the first quarter, against 13.3 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year.

The port will comfortably achieve the target of 61 million tonnes set by the Shipping Ministry, according to port chairman MT Krishna Babu.

He was speaking here in the port stadium on Sunday, before the occasion of Independence Day, after hoisting the National Flag. He said the port had completed important dredging projects, paving the way for handling fully loaded panamax vessels in the inner harbour.

Two cranes of 100 tonnes capacity had been received and the process for acquiring two more had begun, he added.

He said the cargo handling levy on several cargoes had either been removed or reduced and the ease of doing business at the port improved.

Also, the port had been notified as the second transit port for the exim trade to Nepal, he said. The exim cargo will be handled at the container terminal.

He said Visakhapatnam, among the major ports, was the first that had taken up a 10 MW solar power plant project.

Solar energy of nearly 6.25 MW is completed and connected to the grid. Another 190 KW of solar energy is also being generated by the port by using roof top spaces effectively. “The entire power needed by the port is being met by using this means,” he said.

He said the port was also taking all pollution control measures by installing and operating the required equipment.

Air quality was being monitored regularly. He greeted the staff, port users, the trade and the public on the occasion.

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