New Mangalore Port to invest Rs 7,100cr

The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), the seventh largest major port in the country, is embarking on a massive expansion of infrastructure involving an investment of Rs 7,100 crore in two phases over the next seven years.

According to the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP), the NMPT aims to undertake new infrastructure projects jointly with private participation and the port users. The port, located at Panambur near Mangalore on the west coast, aims to build four new berths, an LNG terminal, container terminal and automation of an existing multi-purpose berth, said P Tamilvanan, chairman, NMPT. The expansion of the port would enhance the cargo handling capacity of the port from the existing 38 million tonne per annum to 52 million tonnes per annum. Last financial year, NMPT handled 34.5 million tonne of cargo.

"With rapid industrialisation happening in and around Mangalore, we want to develop the port into a world class port with container handling terminal, LNG facility. The development is planned to take place in several stages," Tamilvanan said.

The new LNG terminal is being built by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) at an investment of Rs 2,600 crore, while the new container terminal will be built by NMPT at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. The firm plans to build a captive jetty to import coal at an investment of Rs 180 crore.

Apart from these, the NMPT proposes to build four new berths at a combined investment of Rs 200 crore.

At present, there are 14 berths at the port. It has recently floated tender for setting up a mechanised iron ore handling facility on Build-Own-Transfer basis at berth No. 14. NMPT is also developing a modern cruise lounge to attract cruise vessels, bunkering facility, dry dock to repair ocean going vessels.

The port, which is expected to handle 15,000 containers (TEUs) during the current fiscal, plans to increase the capacity to 20,000 containers next year.

NMPT is also participating in the development of port-based special economic zone to attract cargo in coordination with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Service Ltd (IL&FS), Oil and Natural Gas Commission and Kanara Chamber of Commerce.

New Mangalore port is well connected with three national highways "� NH13, 17 and 48, Konkan railway, southern railway and an airport.