| Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) would undertake modernisation, renovation and replacement programmes worth Rs 787.5 crore by 2007, most of which lay ahead.
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| KoPT was considering the possibility of setting up a ship building facility as well as ship breaking facility near the existing port, the trust chairman A K Chanda said here today.
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| “With freight rates on the downward turn, and vessel retirements, prospects of the ship breaking industry has improved a lot and this would be right time to set up such facilities ,” Chanda said.
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| The port had earlier taken up a Rs 385-crore river regulatory project to increase the draft at Kolkata dock system.
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| However, the project was shelved and a new plan was awaiting approval.
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| KoPT decided to invest Rs 50 crore in 2005-06 to improve handling facilities.
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| “The quantum of investments of KoPT will rise because the port is keen on tying up with enterpreneurs for investments in the docks,” explained Chanda.
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| The port became the second largest port in the country by handling 46 million tonnes of cargo in 2004-05, and reported operating profit of Rs 327.29 crore on the back of operating income of Rs 1003.50 crore in the fiscal.
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| In fiscal 2003-04, KoPT had reported operating surplus of Rs 956 crore and operating profit of Rs 282.89 crore.
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| However, one of the most ambitious projects of the port was still hanging fire.
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| More than a year after KoPT envisaged building port facilities in Saugor, it is still awaiting the final feasibility study report from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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| JICA was handed the assignment a little more than ayear ago.
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| The facility was proposed to be set up at Saugor near the sandheads at the mouth of river Hooghly.
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| “We are still awaiting the feasibility report from JICA and once it is received, KoPT will proceed with its plan to set up the port facilities there”, Chanda said.
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| Dismissing reports that the shipping ministry had fixed the draft at 16-17 metres for financing major ports, Chanda said, “The goverment has only issued guidelines and will definitely consider fund release taking into account the nature of different ports and regions.”
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| Sagar offered draft of 12.5 metres but the ministry was expected to consider it in view of its special features, as KoPT was the only riverine port in the country.
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| JICA was to prepare a feasibility report for a full-fledged cargo handling facility at Sagar to avail the deep draft available there as the draft at Kolkata and Haldia docks was below 9m.
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| Kolkata dock system had average draft of seven metres, while the draft at Haldia was about 8.5 metres. |
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