Kolkata Dock System enjoys good performance in 2006-2007

Kolkata, Mar 5 (UNI) Two new container parking yards of more than 10,000 square metres each were today opened at the Netaji Subhas Dock and Basra Extension of Kolkata Dock System, adding a new dimension to the container handling system in the country's second largest Port.

Inaugurating the two new facilities Kolkata Port Trust Chairman A K Chanda said the twin facilities had been introduced following steady increase in container traffic in Kolkata Dock System and to reduce the congestion within the Docks.The new extensions had been built at a cost of Rs 5.45 crores and came up much before the scheduled time, Dr Chanda said.

Claiming that the new container parking yards will not only reduce the congestion in the port, but would also help easy movement of containers from berth to yard and vice-versa, the KoPT Chairman said adding a link road had been constructed for smooth movement of vehicles inside dock.

Referring to the volume of work being handled by KOPT, Dr Chanda said during April to February this fiscal the Kolkata Dock System had handled 2,16,752 TEUs against 1,86,480 TEUs handled during 2005-2006, registering a growth of 16.2 per cent.

Moreover, Kolkata Dock System had scaled a new high in September, 2006, when it handled an all time high of 24,383 TEUs and surpassed its previous record of 21,309 TEUs handled in August last year.

He said during April-January 2006-2007 KDS had handled 1,97,360 TEUs registering a growth of 15.84 per cent and became the second largest among Indian Major Container-handling Ports in the country after Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust at Visakhapattanam. Quite significantly, by the end of 2006-2007 Kolkata Dock System alone would be able to handle 2,40,000 TEUs against 2,03,000 TEUs handled in 2005-2006 which registers the growth of more than 15 per cent.

As a mark of historical achievement, Dr Chanda said, Kolkata Dock System alone, in its 136 year history, has so far handled the highest volume of traffic of 11 million tonnes as on February 26 this year after 42 years which was last handled in 1964-65 by Kolkata Port Trust as a whole.

UNI