Krishnapatnam Port targets handling 60 mn MT cargo in FY18-19

: Andhra Pradesh-based Krishnapatnam Port has set itself a target of handling total cargo of close to 60 million metric tonnes during the current financial year, a top official said Friday.

"In six months, we registered more than 25 per cent growth in 2018-19. We handled 29.12 million tonnes of cargo upto September 30, 2018. We expect to handle close to 60 Million Metric Tonnes (this financial year)", Port CEO and Director Anil Yendluri said.

Krishnapatnam Port had handled 45 million tonnes in the last financial year, he told PTI.

Yendluri said the port was in the process of setting up its first liquid cargo terminal at an investment of Rs 500 crore.

"Currently, we do not have a dedicated liquid cargo terminal. We handle palm oil as liquid cargo. But this will be a new liquid cargo terminal. Two vessels can be berthed at the same time on the jetty", he said.

Construction on the terminal has begun and it was proposed to be commissioned in 18 months. It would provide common infrastructure like dredging, jetties, pipelines, road and rail connectivity.

"Investments will be Rs 500 crore. Why we are setting up the terminal is because oil cargo is growing in the Eastern region compared to the West region", he said.

He said container growth clocked 9-10 per cent growth last year, while liquid cargo witnessed a 30 per cent rise.

To a query, he said, apart from liquid cargo the Port was in the process of setting up three more berths for general cargo.