Visakhapatnam Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu on Thursday said efforts were on to mechanise and augment the existing infrastructure to make it most preferred port of the country.
At a trade meet held here, he apprised the BOT operators and other users of the initiatives taken to enhance the efficiency levels and ensure faster evacuation of cargo.
Replying to questions, he said the Ministry of Shipping had set up a committee to look into the concerns expressed by the users over the New Land Policy Guidelines-2014. On provisional collection of charges and the doubts expressed by some stevedores over the ambiguity in the circulars, he said all such issues would be sorted out in course of time.
“The need of the hour is to increase the efficiency parameters and make the operations cost-effective and beneficial to the trade as well as the port,” Mr. Krishna Babu said.
Several participants used the occasion to pour out their woes. Issues like shortage of railway rakes, problem in evacuation, RV line doubling, electrification, parking of trucks and container freight station figured at the meeting.
Vizag Seaport Pvt. Ltd CEO R. Kishore said Visakhapatnam port should regain its No. 1 position, which it enjoyed in the past.
This would happen only when all the berths whether BOT or port’s own were operated efficiently and economically by handling bulk cargoes to prevent migration to other ports.
Adverse impactVisakha Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd CEO Sushil Mulchandani pointed out how the trade was suffering for want of relaxation of Cabotage law and the problem due to non-arrival of empty boxes for export. He also mentioned about the adverse affect on the users due to route rationalisation.
Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar and Commissioner of Customs Siva Naga Kumari were present.
Port Traffic Manager Soundara Rajan proposed a vote of thanks.
