KoPT embarks on expansion at Diamond Harbour,reduces charges

Kolkata, Mar 05 (UNI) The century old Kolkata Port Trust,the country's only riverine port, will set up five more multi-purpose jettis at Diamond Harbour near here soon at a cost of Rs 350 crores to meet an increasing demand.

This was announced here today by Kolkata Port Trust(KoPT)Chairman A K Chanda while speaking to newsmen after inaugurating two new container parking bays at the Netaji Subhas Dock here to handle the increased traffic at the port.

He said following 'a very healthy' growth in business during the past couple of years, the volume of cargo handling at KoPT during the current fiscal had already crossed the record eleven million tonnes mark breaking a 23 year old record. In fact the port is the second largest in terms of cargo handling.

''This has brought to the fore the importance of immediate expansion of the services and container handling facilities of the Port by many times,'' Dr Chanda said and elaborated the importance of constructing five more jettis in 20 km upstream of the Ganges at Diamond Harbour in phases within the next three years.

He said after conducting a feasibility study by a renowned consultancy firm KoPT had decided to initially construct three of the five multipurpose jettis at Diamond Harbour on an estimated 85 acres of defence land in the area.

Ruling out the chances of facing any opposition from any quarters for acquiring the required land for the new jettis,the chairman said since the land belonged to the defence establishments he did not foresee any problem in acquiring them smoothly.

About the expected cost of constructing the jettis he said it was estimated to the tune of Rs 350 crores,to be raised through Public-Private Partnership(PPP)route. On the selection of partners,Dr Chanda said soon KoPT would float global tenders to select the right partner who would work on the Built-Oversee and Transfer(BOT)and on long term lease basis.

On the problem of having the necessary draft of the river at the identified area,Dr Chanda said the feasibility study had stated that compared to the minimum drafting of nine metres required by the port,the depth of water at Diamond Harbour point varied between 10.3 metres and 11.2 metres round the year.

Asked about his expansion and modernisation plans to meet the increasing demand at Haldia Port, which also comes under the KoPT, he said they had decided to build two bulk cargo berths and as many container jettis by next year at a total cost of Rs 250 crores. This project would,however,be entirely funded by the Centre.

When asked about the repeated demands for cutting down the Dwelling Time of container handling procedures at the Kolkata Port by half from 20 days to make its end users globally competitve, Dr Chanda said following the proposed introduction of the new Port tariff regime from March eight by the National Tariff Administration of Multiple Products(NTAMP), suggesting 20 per cent cut in Port Service charges,the average dwelling time would be reduced to only three days.

The reduction in Port service charges would also have a positive effect on demurrage charges at the Port,Dr Chanda said adding that in order to systematise the container handling system further, KoPT had decided to impose penalty on invoicees from the fourth day onwards now instead of earlier system of 20 days onwards.

This would also go a long in improving the overall services of the Port and Dock systems here,the Kopt Chairman said and promised to maintain about 15 per cent annual growth in business as well as in terms of volume in KoPT to continue its leading positions.

Later a computerised Dock Information Technology Centre and a fully computerised permit centre were inaugurated by Dr Chanda to provide a new face in the work culture at different levels at both Kolkata and Haldia port and Dock systems.

Among others Deputy Chairman of Kolkata Dock Systems A.K.Majumdar and Customs Commissioner,East B B Agarwal were present.

UNI