Achieves second spot among major ports
Another year of better, faster and higher performance has catapulted the Paradip Port to the top of the table among the country’s major ports in 2013-14 in terms of capacity (108.5 million tonnes per annum) and the second highest in terms of cargo handled (68 MT in the year).
The volume of cargo handled is an all-time high achievement for the port and has pushed the standing of the port from the fifth position among the Major Ports from the year before to second spot in the last fiscal.
Paradip Port Trust (PPT) chairman Sudhanshu Shekhara Mishra told a Press meet here on Wednesday that with the augmentation in capacity in the last fiscal year, the port now boasted of globally the sixth highest position in terms of bulk cargo handling capacity. He also pointed out that the record breaking performances had been achieved in the face of a global economic gloom and in spite of the cyclone Phailin.
Underlining the “Can do” spirit and coordinated efforts among all the stakeholders of the port that have made the achievements possible, Mishra held up the MoU with the Gas Authority of India ltd to set up liquefied natural gas terminals in the port in the face of serious competitions from other ports in the country as the proof that the port had the ability to match competition from both private or public sectors to get business. He also cited the plans for an inland container depot as another step in the direction to diversify the capacity augmentation of the port.
The port’s Traffic manager Kishor Kumar Sahoo described through a power-point presentation the activities and achievements of the port. The highlight of the achievements was the total revenue of `1,068 crore representing a 34-per cent growth from the previous year, operating revenue of `915 crore representing a growth of 38 per cent and a surplus-after-tax of `233 crore representing a growth of 24 per cent.
Sahoo also briefed about the growth plan for the port that would take the port to a capacity of 270 MT 10 years from now. The list included ongoing projects at the southern jetty and deep draught coal berths. Projects under bidding included mechanisation of berths, development of deep draught iron ore berths and multipurpose clean cargo berths. The projects for future had special mention about the lNG berths and the Western Dock System.
PPT secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra made a presentation about the activities in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) area. In addition to the usual activities of running schools, colleges and health centres, the activities included sterling relief work done for Phailin victims and setting up a hockey turf of international standard. The port is already sponsoring a hockey team for national tournaments. He also mentioned the awards received by the port from various quarters in recognition of its achievements.