Kandla Port Trust to invest Rs 755 cr in 4 dry cargo berths

Aiming to cross 100 million tonne cargo handling capacity by 2012-13, Kandla Port Trust (KPT) today said it will be adding four multi-purpose cargo berths to handle an additional 8 million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) consignment.

"We shall be adding four multi-purpose cargo berths (13 to 16) capable of catering to Post Panamax vessels and handling 8 MMTPA of cargo on BOT (build, operate, transfer) basis, with an estimated investment of Rs 755 crore," Chairman PD Vaghela said here.

"The port has inked concession agreements for the berth numbers 13, 15 and 16. The construction work for 13th berth has started, while construction of 15th & 16th will get started shortly," he said.

"The request for qualification (RFQs) for the berth number 14th shall be invited soon," Vaghela said.

KPT handled 81.88 MMT of cargo during FY11, registering an increase of 23.80 lakh MMT over the last year's traffic of 79.50 MMT, maintaining its 'numero uno' position amongst the 12 major ports in the country, he said.

"The port has utilised more than 95 per cent of its total cargo handling capacity of 85.80 MMT."

The dry cargo traffic handled by KPT (including containerised cargo) during FY 2010-11 was 265.38 lakh MT, up from 245.84 lakh MT in the previous year.

KPT has undertaken projects to develop eight off-shore dry cargo berths outside Kandla creek, at Tekra, capable of catering to the vessels up to 100,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) and handling 28 MMTPA of cargo, in two phases, an official said.