New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is in the process of increasing its capacity to 100 million tonnes by 2020, according to P C Parida, Chairman of NMPT.
Speaking after unfurling the National Flag on the occasion of Independence Day on Friday, he said that the port has already developed its infrastructure to handle 77 million tonnes of cargoes a year. It is in the process of increasing this capacity to 100 mt by 2020, he said.
On some of the development works taken up at the port, Parida said a yard for containers and warehouse for general cargo are being developed. This initiative will help handle more general cargoes at the port.
Work on deepening the harbour to 18 metres is also on the cards. This will help accommodate large vessels inside the port, and will make the export-import trade more competitive in the region, he said.
NMPT has been helping the ONGC-led consortium for the development of an LNG terminal at the port. He hoped that the detailed project report on the proposed terminal will be ready by the end of 2014-15.
Parida also highlighted the contribution made by the NMPT to Karnataka in the last four decades.