The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) achieved an all-time high traffic throughput of 71.01 million tonnes during 2014-15 against the previous year’s traffic of 68.00 MT exhibiting a growth of 4.42% year-on-year. The traffic is the second highest among all Major Ports in the country. The port has maintained its second position in terms of traffic handled by all Major Ports.
A PPT release on Sunday said that in the current financial year, the port is poised to handle 78 MT of cargo. The port in the first two months of the year up to May 30 has handled 11.66 MT of cargo against 11.40 MT in the last year’s corresponding period. Till May-end, the port’s cargo growth is 2.28% more than the last year’s same period.
As many as 254 ships called at the port during this period against 240 last year. Thus, the increase in ship number is 5.83%. This is despite the fact that the cargo handling declined marginally during April by 5.28% in comparison to the previous year as in other Major Ports which handled large volumes of dry bulk cargo.
The port has achieved total revenue of Rs1,059.50 crore, operating revenue of Rs920.94 crore, operating surplus of Rs371.29 crore, surplus-after-tax of Rs261.69 crore, operating ratio of 60%, utilisation of planned expenditure to the tune of 110% and operating expenditure per tonne of cargo handled to the tune of Rs77.40.
With a view to competing with the neighbouring ports, the Paradip Port has undertaken a number of projects including deepening the channel and harbour to 20 meter which will its capacity from the existing 108.50 MT to 270.50 MT per annum by 2023.
The port has been discharging its commitment to the society by taking up several CSR activities. During 2014-15, the port spent Rs6.09 crore on various CSR Activities. Some of the CSR activities which are beneficial to the society such as providing public toilets, organising free medical camps, literacy programmes, running several educational institutions and 150 Self-Help Groups, encouraging sports and culture, etc.
PPT Chairman MT Krishna Babu and Deputy Chairman N Vaiyapuri have expressed their happiness over the achievements and congratulated the port officers, employees, workers and stakeholders who contribute for this performance.