Unfazed by fall in traffic to 54.25 mt in 2011-12 from 56.03 mt in the previous year, Paradip Port Trust has drawn up ambitious plans to raise its capacity to 251 mt by 2020 and to set up a satellite port in Odisha.
"The port handled a traffic of 54.25 mt as against the previous year's traffic of 56.03 mt and target of 63 mt," PPT Chairman G J Rao told reporters here.
There was a shortfall of 1.78 mt of cargo handled during 2011-12 due to slump of iron ore export of 7.30 mt and coking coal import of 0.69 mt during the year, he said. All other cargo, however, exhibited upward surge.
Stating that the port's performance parameters improved during the year, Rao said the average waiting time, turn- around time and average berth-day output improved by 53%, 4% and 12% respectively over the corresponding figures of previous year.
Paradip port, which raised its capacity to 80 mt per annum by adding 4 mt through mechanisation and deepening of navigation channels among other measures, has taken up a host of projects to increase the capacity to 251 mt per annum by 2020, PPT chairman said.
Rao said PPT plans to set up a new port at Bahuda Muhan near Gopalpur in a joint venture with Odisha government to handle thermal coal cargo and cater to power generation units in southern region.
Describing the site identified for the purpose as ideal for port construction, he said the proposed satellite port would be a 'green port' with fully mechanised operations and negligible impact on environment.
