Monsoon may delay Gangavaram port works

The management of Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) sees possibilities of the Rs 1800-crore project at Visakhapatnam getting delayed by a few months in view of early monsoon. As per the initial schedule, GPL wanted to complete the first five berths by December 2007 and start the handling works from 2008.

"Normally, monsoon starts from the middle of June in the state. But this year, it has arrived 10-15 days ahead. If the monsoon lasts longer than in normal times, the port work will be delayed," GPL chairman and managing director D V S Raju said and added that intense waves in the sea obstructed the dredging works.

Agitations by local fishermen and Opposition political parties for better compensation and rehabilitation package have already hampered the port works for more than a month.

Any delay in completion of the port works could result in costs overshooting, he said. However, GPL is planning to take up work on 3-5 more berths simultaneously.

"Our operations will be fully mechanised, so GPL can handle up to 25 million tonnes with initial five berths. Once we complete 29 berths, the handling capacity will increase to 200 million tonnes a year," he said.