Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata targets handling around 74 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in the current financial year, with daily handling of containers increasing nearly one- and-a-half times.

The port, which consists of two dock systems — Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex — handled around 71 MT cargo last financial year.

“On the basis of the CAGR in recent years, the way we are growing, we will definitely be able to meet this cargo handling target this fiscal. In the last six months to one year, our capacity for daily handling of containers has increased by a great extent, at almost 1.5 times what we were handling one- and-a-half years ago,” Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Deputy Chairman Samrat Rahi told businessline. 

If currently we are handling 2,000 containers daily at Kolkata Dock System, we are very hopeful that we will handle 3,000 containers daily as most of the berths will be on PPP (public-private partnership) mode. Century Ports Ltd has already started operations, and JSW Infrastructure Ltd is also starting operations soon," he added.

Kolkata's iconic Kidderpore Docks' first-ever PPP terminal, developed by Century Ports Ltd, started operations in June.

JSW Infrastructure, which has emerged the successful bidder for the in-tegrated development of the outer container terminal, comprising two berths, and five berths at Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) at Kolkata Dock System, is likely to commence operations in July.

"All these developments will help increase the number of cranes at Kolkata Dock System, and it will ensure a significant reduction in turn-around time. Moreover, we are planning to have a cement bulk terminal at the Kidderpore Docks. For that, a tender has been floated. A tender has also been floated for a multimodal terminal at the Kidderpore Docks. Together, they will contribute to the augmentation of cargo," Rahi said.

For the Haldia Dock Complex, a major tender has been floated for devel-oping an outer container terminal. "The bidding is in the final phase. This will contribute to the augmentation of cargo at the Haldia Dock as well," Rahi said.

For the Haldia Dock Complex, a major tender has been floated for devel-oping an outer container terminal. "The bidding is in the final phase. This will contribute to the augmentation of cargo at the Haldia Dock as well," Rahi said.

Source: The Hindu Business Line 

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