Kolkata port registered an impressive 29.87 per cent growth in container traffic in the April-May 2016 over corresponding period last year, government today said.
There was a an average rise of 4.27 per cent in container traffic at all major ports in the country, it said.
During the period, KoPT handled 564 ships - the highest among Indian Major Ports.
"Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) handled 1,25,101 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent unit) in Apr-May'16 vis-a-vis 96,326 TEUs in Apr-May'15, registering the highest growth of 29.87 per cent among Indian Major Ports (against 4.27 per cent growth registered by Major Ports)," Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.
As far as cargo traffic was concerned, the port handled during April-May 2016 handled 8.011 million tonnes (MT) of traffic.
"KoPT registered growth in April-May'16 vis-a-vis April-May'15 in respect of other liquid cargo, manganese ore, other ore, fertiliser, limestone, other coke, fly ash, pulse, container TEUs and tonnage, other miscellaneous cargo etc," the statement said.
The government said Kolkata Port ranked first in terms of quantum of coking and other coal/coke handling, second in other liquid cargo handling amongst Indian major ports in Apr-May 2016.
The statement said in April-May 2016, KoPT handled rail-borne traffic of 4.091 MT.
India has 12 major ports -- Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) which handle approximately 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.
