Several Greenfield and Brownfield projects in the hinterland will soon make Visakhapatnam an ideal gateway for container traffic.
The success achieved by the Visakha Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd., set up as a joint venture between DP World and United Liner Agencies of India (Pvt.) Ltd. on June 26, 2003, is convincing many that Visakhapatnam is a better place to send/bring their cargo to save their money and time.
Favourable factors
With a natural depth of 16.5 metres, quay length of 450 metres, permissible draft of 15 metres and ground slots of 1,500 TEUs, the terminal has emerged as one of the best to offer all-weather 24x7 cargo handling facility.
Located in the heart of East Coast, its hinterland spreads over seven States, including Orissa and Chhattisgarh within a radius of 700 km up to North and North-East India. It has tremendous scope for expansion.
VCTPL handled over 1,00,000 TEUs during the operational year from July 2009 to June 2010, accounting for 24 per cent increase over the previous year.
There is huge potential for import cargo, with mega projects in the pipeline in the hinterland. VCTPL officials say it is fully equipped to handle special containers with its rich experience in transporting boilers, turbines, generators and auxiliaries for coal plant, pressure filters and plant machinery.
Major steel and aluminum, ferroalloys and refractory industries are expanding their facilities in the hinterland.
According to an estimate, the current Indian steel production, which is close to 65 million tonne, is expected to rise to 250 million tonne by 2015. Most of the upcoming steel industries are situated in the hinterland of Visakhapatnam, with the exception of Karnataka, which is competing in the steel sector with Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
Aluminium sector
The Indian Aluminium industry, which is second to the steel industry, is growing at a rapid pace.
India, with a total bauxite reserve of 3 billion tonnes, accounts for 7.5 per cent of 65 billion bauxite reserves worldwide.
India's bauxite reserves are expected to last 350 years. India's current aluminium production is 2.7 million tonnes per annum, which is expected to rise to 6 million tonnes.
“VCTPL is the ideal gateway for the export and import movement of the industries planning to increase their market across the hinterland,” VCTPL CEO Sreeram Ravi Chander told The Hindu .
