Cpt Posts Rs 143cr Surplus

Calcutta Port Trust (CPT) has closed 1996-97 with a 32.92 per cent rise in surplus over that of the revised budgeted surplus, mainly through a prudent management policy.

The revenue account of the Calcutta Dock System (CDS) has closed with a surplus of Rs 14.19 crore for 1996-97. Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), the more remunerative arm of CPT, has reported a surplus of Rs 129.07 crore during the same period.

This when compared with the revised budgeted surplus of Rs 107.78 crore has shown a satisfactory result for CPT. The revised budgeted surplus was Rs 11.13 crore for CDS and Rs 96.65 crore for HDC.

In terms of cargo movement also, CPT has gained a little in the year under review. Traffic through the two dock systems of CDS and HDC in 1996-97 was 23.07 million tonnes in total, 6.02 million tonnes at CDS and 17.05 million tonnes at HDC. This is against the revised estimates of 6.03 million tonnes at CDS and 17.31 million tonnes at HDC.

About loan repayments, CPT has completed four instalments to the Union government till 1996-97 end. It has to make 16 instalments to liquidate the loan taken from the Centre.

At the rate of Rs 18.67 crore per instalment, CPT has paid back to the Centre till end of 1996-97 a total of Rs 74.68 crore. This leaves outstanding loan totalling Rs 298.67 crore as on 31 March 1997.

H P Roy, the newly appointed CPT chairman, has inherited this comparatively bright position from Bikram Sarkar who laid down office in April-end. But as deputy chairman of CPT and in charge of HDC he was also considered to have contributed to the turnaround of the CPTs financial position.