NMPT cargo traffic up 12%

The New Mangalore Port during fiscal year 2007-08 handled a record traffic of 36.02 million tonnes as against 32.04 million tones handled during the previous year, registering a growth of 12.41 per cent over the previous year and 4.89 per cent over the target fixed by the ministry, Tamilvanan, chairman, NMPT said.

The port had handled 55 per cent of its traffic through rail and 45 per cent by road. The port is also planning to increase its capacity by another 25 per cent from the present 41 million tonnes by 2011-12, he said.

As part of the business promotion drive, the NMPT, in association with the FKCCI, Bangalore, had held trade meets to appraise on the latest developments of the port to importers and exporters of the state and to sort out issues which hamper the smooth flow of cargo through the port, he said.

A team from the FKCCI visited the port recently and promised to divert more cargo to the port. A cruise lounge was ready and four warehouse sheds had been set up in the port to help cargo handling, he said.

The port had already implemented the first phase of the Port Community System (PCS) for online submission of vessel-related documents and is planning to set up a second and third phase shortly, he added.

The port's future proposals include development of coal handling facilities for captive user, setting up mechanised iron ore handling facilities under berth No. 14, development of bunkering facility and oil dock arm, bulk handling berth at the western dock arm, and setting up of the multi-purpose general cargo berth, Tamilvanan said.