The Paradip Port has handled 24.44 MMT of traffic in the first quarter of the current financial year ending June as against 20.59 MMT cargo handled during the corresponding period of 2016-17 FY witnessing a growth rate of 18.63 per cent in the quarter.
Accordingly, the number of vessels handled by the Port has recorded a growth of 12.34 per cent in the above period with 437 ships handled against 389 during the corresponding period of the previous year.
The Port has already taken a slew of measures which has ensured improvement in productivity of ship day from 22,161MT in 2016-17 to 25,588 MT for ship day in 2017-18( up to June, 2017) witnessing a growth of 15.46 per cent, and average Turnround time (TRT) has improved from 4.53 days in 2016-17 to 4.40 days in 2017-18.
Because of various initiatives, the PPT has witnessed handling of record quantity of 8.86 MMT of cargo during May surpassing the previous record of 8.34 MMT handled during the month of March 2017. Similarly, an all time record of eight rakes un-loaded at IOHP in a single day on May 1, 2017 surpassing the previous record of seven rakes un-loaded on June 23, 2016.
Besides, the PPT registered highest incremental growth of 3.84 MMT as well as highest growth rate of 18.63 per cent amongst all major ports in the first quarter.
PPT Chairman Rinkesh Roy said the port has taken up a host of projects to increase the capacity from existing 143.44 MTT per annum to 325 MMTPA by the year ending 2025
The ongoing projects include development of the multi-purpose berth at Rs 430.78 crore, development of a Deep Draught Coal Berth on BOT basis at Rs 655.56 crore, development of Deep Draught Iron Ore Berth on BOT at Rs 740.19 crore, mechanisation of EQ 1, 2, 3 Berths at cost of Rs 1,437.76 crore.
Besides ongoing projects, the PPT has taken up different initiatives to develop the Port city to a Smart Industrial Port City at an estimated cost of Rs 2,770 crore.
The Port has taken up for many initiatives for eco-friendly Port operation, which includes a establishment of micro filament net barrier of 3km in length and 12 metre in height, plantation of 25,000 saplingsand regular sprinkling of water on all operational roads and berths.
The Port has taken up beautification works to improve the Port landscape and general wellbeing of the inhabitants of Port Township.
Under CSR activities, the port has taken up many works in the first quarter which include construction of school buildings, disbursement of Rs 25 lakh for the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships, supply of DG set to the DHH, Kendrapada and providing free cataract operations to 42 BPl persons.