Posted on December 5, 2017
By VKL Gayatri, The Hans India
With four months to go for completion of current fiscal of 2017-18, Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) crossed its previous year’s cargo handling throughput. VPT in the past eight months achieved 61.02 million tonnes (MT) as against previous fiscal’s 61.02MT as there’s been a significant growth in all types of cargo.
Despite sluggish business during the first quarter, VPT is confident of achieving the target of 65 MT of cargo handling in 2017-18, according to a senior official of traffic department at VPT.
The improvement of the operational efficiency supported by timely decision making have propelled VPT to cross the previous fiscal’s throughput and nearing the target of 65 MT, the official said. In fact, during the past six years, the VPT had been facing tough time to reach the 60 MT cargo throughputs. Augmenting the equipment, deep dredging of inner harbour, development of old berths, construction of new berths and several other works, VPT failed to cross 60 MT. In order to promote the trade, VPT removed the cargo handling levy on some cargoes. The levy on cargo handling labour has also been reduced.
Though sluggish business is prevailing across the country and facing tough competition from the private ports, the VPT offering sops to the trade and attracting the new customers. Cargo throughput at Port of Visakhapatnam increased to 61.02MT in 2016-17 from 59.04 million tonnes handled during 2012-13.
Volumes in respect of Container cargo, iron ore, thermal coal (coastal movement to TNEB) and other cargoes such as petroleum coke, liquid fertiliser raw materials contributed to the growth, said a senior official of traffic department. During the year 2016-17, the port registered a significant growth of seven per cent in cargo throughput despite competition from the neighbouring private ports and volatile EXIM trade.
An incremental volume of four million tonnes was recorded as compared to 57.03 million tonnes handled during the previous year 2015-16, the official added.
Source: The Hans India
