KoPT launches GIS to increase estate revenue

Kolkata, Aug 5 (UNI) Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) today introduced web-based Geographical Information System (GIS) for effective management of around 11000 acres of land owned by it in Kolkata and Haldia.

The system, developed by IT solutions company Descon Ltd, would help KoPT generate more revenue from 4500 acres of land at Kolkata and 6500 acres of land at Haldia, KoPT chairman A K Chanda told reporters here.

"Our revenue collections from estates have gone up from Rs 18 crore to Rs 120 crore in 2005-06 and in the first four months of the current fiscal we have collected Rs 46 crore. With the introduction of GIS based estate management, KoPT will get all relevant information pertaining to a particular tract of land at the desktop, enabling it to make faster decisions," Chanda said.

In the next six to eight weeks KoPT is planning to further spruce up the system to enable the tenants get information about the land leased to them.

The chairman said KoPT is also planning to revalue the land owned by it through a consultant. The last revaluation was undertaken in 1996.

Presently, around 2,800 acres of KoPT land is either encroached or leased out and around 100 acres could be used commercially, Chanda added.

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