NMPT reduces cargo charges by 10 per cent across board

Bangalore, Nov 11 (UNI) New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), the seventh largest cargo handling port in the country, has reduced its cargo charges by ten per cent across the board as part of its major initiatives to spur cargo movement from the west coast.

Briefing Karnataka's businessmen about the steps taken to achieve a higher cargo handling capacity at a FKCCI sponsored Trade Meet here, NMPT Chairman P Tamilvanan said the port, which had achieved 34.5 million tonnes of cargo handling last year, would increase its cargo handling capacity from the present 38 mt to 60 mt in five years.

Saying that the onus would be on increasing container traffic, he said the port had handled 12,000 containers last year and the number was expected to cross 15,000 this year.

The port, which had 14 berths including the newly built cargo berth with a draft of 14 meters, which was one of the deepest in the country, had taken up other major works like building of four more berths under BOOT scheme. Dry dock facility to enable servicing and repairs of ocean going vessels and bunker facilities were under progress at a fast pace. The railway marshalling yard was already ready. It also had adequate quantity of cranes and tugboats of various sizes, he said.

To meet the increased number of cruise vessels coming to Mangalore, NMPT was also constructing a cruise terminal, which would be operational in seven months.

NMPT Traffic Manager S Gopalakrishna said to bring more exporters and importers to use the modern port, the authorities had reduced vessel related charges by 25 per cent and cargo charges by ten per cent.

The rates for LPG had been reduced from Rs 200 to Rs 180 per tonne. The rates for coke were reduced from Rs 30 to Rs 24, sugar from Rs 60 to 40, wood pulp from Rs 50 to Rs 40, paper from Rs 60 to Rs 50, salt and rice from Rs 60 to Rs 50.

Mr Tamilvanan said the port was keen to set up its own SEZ but the Central government had asked it to join the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry which was already developing a port-based SEZ in Mangalore.

NMPT would now be part of the Mangalore SEZ, which would have three component sectors areas forming part of NMPT for port-based activities, areas surrounding the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) for petrochemical and aromatic complex and areas in Baikampady for locating general-purpose industries.

FKCCI President R C Purohit said Karnataka, a major exporter had achieved Rs 82,000 crore of exports last year and the figure would cross Rs 100,000 crore in the current year.

FKCCI was promoting exports through its district level chambers to tap the vast potential of industries in tier II and III cities.

Saying that inadequate infrastructure mainly the bad quality of roads connecting Mangalore is hindering the progress of NMPT, he appealed to the Chairman of the port trust to prevail upon the center to improve road infrastructure in the state.

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