CPT achieves 41% growth in cargo handling

Kochi, Aug 5 (UNI) The Cochin Port Trust registered 41 per cent growth in traffic during the first four months of the current financial year, compared to the corresponding period last year.

A release said today, the traffic handled during April-July 2006 was 50,76,349 tonne, as against 35,90,547 tonne during the corresponding period last year. Average output per day also increased 29 per cent, adding 6,897 tonne of last year to 8,927 tonne during April-July 2006, the release added.

Most of the growth was attributed to items like crude oil, timber and container traffic, the release added.

Import of timber, which was resumed in 2004-2005 after a long period of 20 years, has shown an upward trend.

The Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal, currently operated by India Gateway Terminal (P) Ltd, a subsidiary of D P World, registered a growth of 17 per cent in the number of containers handled during the period.

During April-July, 2005, 62,697 TEUs of containers were handled at the port, which rose to 73,320 TEUs during April-July 2006, the release said.

UNI MA GKT 1815