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The Hyderabad-based CVR Group-promoted Krishnapatnam Port is planning to enter the containerised cargo segment.
Currently, the Krishnapatnam port, located on the east coast of the country, handles only bulk cargo such as iron ore and coal.
The company has set up two berths that can handle up to one million 20-feet equivalent unit (TEU) containers annually.
The terminal is likely to get operational in a month, after it ties up with shipping lines that can call on the port to lift and drop containers.
The 13 major ports had handled 7.5 million TEUs in 2010-11.
The JN Port has handled the highest number of containers (4.2 million TEUs); followed by the Chennai Port (1.5 million TEUs).
This move is likely to result in competition for the container terminal operators at Chennai port.
CONCOR TIE-UP
For handling hinterland movement of containers, Krishnapatnam Port has entered into a tie-up with Container Corporation of India (Concor). Concor has assured the port that it will provide train services.
“We asked Krishnapatnam Port if they can load and unload containers of a rake in three hours. They assured us that they can. So, we told them that we will start running trains. The number of trains will go up depending on container volumes,” said Mr Anil Gupta, Managing Director, Concor. Concor will also invest in setting up a container freight station (CFS) in partnership with the port, within the port premises.
But, the companies did not disclose details about investments, equity ownership, timings, pointing out that the talks are yet to be finalised.
“We have been looking forward to increasing traffic handling in the east coast,” Mr Gupta said.
SHIPPING LINES
Krishnapatnam Port is in talks with container shipping liners in Singapore to get the ships to start calling on the port.
The company declined to divulge names of shipping lines.
“We are in talks with liners. To start with, we would have feeder services to Singapore and Colombo. We are confident that we will be able to get mother vessels to call on our port as well,” Mr Anil Yendluri, Chief Executive Officer, Krishnapatnam Port Ltd, said. here today.
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