Having enabled the traders to connect with their counterparts in Myanmar and Colombo, the Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd (KPCL) is all set to welcome the Shipping Corporation of India’s yet-to-be-named service that would connect both the countries.
At present, KPCL is facilitating a fortnightly service to the Port of Yangon, which is about 1,100 nautical miles, and two weekly services to Colombo through private shipping lines (500 nautical miles).
However, it never occurred to KPCL officials to connect these destinations.
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The commencement of SCI’s new service Colombo-Chennai-Krishnapatnam-Yangon-Colombo from October first week would enable the trade to reach these destinations quicker and at lesser cost. From KPCL, traders are exporting clinker, telecom equipment and cars and on return these vessels carried pulses, timber and garment.
Talking to The Hindu , KPCL Director and CEO Anil Yendluri said: “The inclusion of Krishnapatnam Port in the new service is a testimony to our success, and this brings us on a par with major Indian ports. India and Myanmar needs lot of things and this service would help all of us immensely.”
KPCL was the first port to hold trade meet in Myanmar. It also held a trade meet in Ivory Coast that saw significant increase in export of rice and cashew.
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Krishnapatnam Rail Company Ltd (KRCL) has completed doubling of 26-km track between the port and Venkatachalam Road junction. On an average 24 rakes are deployed to move one lakh tonnes of cargo such as clinker, containers, cement, agri-food and granites on a daily basis.
“Doubling of track will help provide seamless connectivity to Chennai-Kolkata cities, edible oil refineries, steel, thermal and cement plants located at the hinterland of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. We are all set to become the Eastern gateway of India,” he said.