State to double capacity at old Mangalore port

The department of ports and inland water transport which controls minor ports in the state, is expanding the old Mangalore port to double its vessel handling capacity from the present 25 vessels. The department has recently cleared the proposal to construct a new jetty in the centre of the port at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.

According to old Mangalore port officials, the contract has been awarded to Kochi-based Geotech Constructions and the work is expected to be completed in one year. The construction of this 150-metre jetty, with a vessel handling capacity of 20 at a time, will make way for docking of medium-sized ships with 1,800-2,000 dead weight tonnage (DWT).

Currently, the port has two jetties with a capacity to handle 25 ships at a time. It is handling ships upto 1,600 DWT only. The new jetty is being constructed at the centre of the port on the Gurupur river.

During 2007-08, the port handled 21 ships. In cargo handling the port witnessed a drop of 14 per cent in the imports at 14,627 metric tonnes.

The value of the imported commodity was down by 18 per cent to Rs 16.2 crore. In terms of exported commodity handled during the year the port has witnessed a drop of 16.6 per cent to 64,882 metric tonnes. The value of of exports has, however, seen a marginal increase of 5.7 per cent to Rs 38.6 crore during the year.

Major commodities imported through the port were copra, dry fish, salt, cement, soda ash, clay powder, wheat and coconut shell. The major exports were sand, rice, granite jelly, high speed diesel, petrol, tiles, clay bricks, pig iron among others.

In terms of revenues, the port earned Rs 1.20 crore compared to Rs 1.27 crore in the previous year.

The port also handled 357 passengers who sailed off to Lakshadweep islands during the year. The state government has been making serious efforts to improve its port infrastructure with private participation.

The department maintains ten minor ports between Mangalore in the south and Karwar in the north. The other minor ports in the state are located at Karwar, Belekeri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarakatta, Malpe and Padubidri.