The market slowdown notwithstanding, Visakhapatnam Port is confident of handling 61 million tonne during 2016-17.
The port which made a good beginning in the first quarter by handling a throughput of 15.6 million tonne as against 13.3 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, is taking steps to improve efficiency parameters to achieve the target of 61 million tonne set by the Ministry of Shipping Ministry, Visakhapatnam Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu said during his 70{+t}{+h}Independence Day address after unfurling the tricolour at the Port Stadium.
He said the industry was gaining momentum and the monsoon was also quite encouraging. He said they had successfully completed important dredging projects, paving the way for handling fully-laden Panamax vessels in the Inner Harbour without lightening in the Outer Harbour. Two cranes of 100 tonne capacity had been received and the process for acquiring two more had begun, he added.
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Mr. Krishna Babu said steps like removal or reduction of cargo handling levy and demurrage charges had ensured ease of doing business at the port. He said the Visakhapatnam port had also been notified as the gateway port after Kolkata for handling cargo bound for Nepal.
They were expecting container cargo bound for Nepal to be handled at the container terminal developed under BOT basis.
Mr. Krishna Babu said Visakhapatnam was the first among major ports to take up construction of 10 MW solar power plant near the airport. Solar power of nearly 6.25 MW has been completed and connected to the grid. Another 190 KW of solar energy is also being generated by the port by using roof top spaces effectively. “The entire power needed by the port is being met by using this," he said.
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