Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) MT Krishna Babu has commended the port trade unions for stopping the practices of notional gang booking and speed money at the port.

Thanking the members of the trade unions on Thursday, he said it would reduce the overall logistic costs and help make NMPT more competitive.

Babu, who had held a series of meetings with the representatives of trade unions in the port in July, convinced them of the need to do away with speed money and notional gangs that were hampering the growth of the port. It had resulted in the diversion of non-captive cargo from the region to competitor ports such as Kattupalli, Krishnapatnam, Ennore and Chennai.

He said that the business development team of the port will soon embark on regular visits to the potential shippers to attract greater volumes of cargo to the port.

Babu said the medical needs of the unorganised labour in the port would be met by establishing a clinic with outpatient consultation (including specialists) and a dispensary providing free generic medicines on the port premises. The facility, which will start operation soon, will also be extended to the local populace near New Mangalore Port.

NMPT will extend financial support to the wards of the unorganised labourers for their education with the CSR funds of the port, he said.

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