NMPT port handling rises by over 15 %

Mangalore, Aug 25 (UNI) The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) witnessed a 15.85 per cent increase in port handling to 14.14 million tonnes during the current financial year, compared to last year.

Port sources said container traffic saw a 32 per cent increase due to the timely marketing efforts made by the Port. Additions to infrastructure like purchase of Reach Stacker, extension and hardening of container stackyard and increasing the Reefer Plug points also led to this rise.

The Port had handled 1.95 million tonnes of railway traffic as against 0.8 million tonnes last year, showing an increase of 124 per cent .

The sources said that to synchronise with the commissioning of HMRD line on May five, 2006, the Port had made all out efforts to renovate all the five railway lines, lay platforms and install high power tower lights, which enabled round the clock operations. Four more lines were also added by M/s. Kudremukh.

All these railway related activities in and out of Mangalore Port recorded impressive increase in traffic, resulting in a drastic reduction in the cost of cargo movement from New Mangalore Port to the Hinterland.

The sources said the distance from Hassan- Mangalore had now considerably reduced to 260 km from 1038 km, thereby bringing down the freight rates to Rs 229 per tonne from Rs 727 per tonne.

UNI