State port regulator Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) today said it expects the cargo handling capacity of its ports in the state to reach 323 million tonnes (mt) by this financial year end.
“By end of the fiscal year, the cargo handling capacity of the ports here is projected to be 323 MTPA. It is envisaged that by 2015-16, GMB ports will be handling more than 500 MTPA, and over 1,000 mt by 2020,” a senior official said.
“The proactive measures taken by the government have ensured that natural advantages are not wasted. This has helped Gujarat to become the number one maritime state in the country,” GMB Vice-Chairman and CEO Pankaj Kumar said.
The consolidated cargo handling of GMB ports at the end of third quarter (April-December 2011) stood at 193.18 mt as against 169.95 mt in the corresponding period a year ago, showing growth of 13.66 per cent.
In last one decade, capacity of GMB run ports has more than doubled from 135 mt to 284 mt at the end of 2010-11, an official statement said. The cargo traffic has increased in ports such as Magdalla/Hazira, Bedi, Dahej, Sikka and Mundra.
The traffic at Magdalla/Hazira port increased to 16.40 mt upto December 2011 versus 14.14 mt in the corresponding period a year ago, it said.
Due to fast paced developments, the cargo traffic at Dahej Port has jumped to 13.18 mt upto December 2011 as against 10.34 mt in the same period a year ago.
Likewise, cargo handled at Bedi port increased to 2.28 mt upto December 2011 versus 1.69 mt in the same period a year ago. Speaking about private ports, GMB stated cargo handling at Mundra port grew to 34.60 mt up to December 2011 as compared to 26.09 mt in the same period a year ago.
The container traffic at Mundra port surged to 14.13 mt up to December 2011 as against 11.60 mt in the same period a year ago.
While, cargo traffic grew to 4.07 mt during the nine months period (April-Dec 2011) at Pipavav Port versus 3.12 mt in the corresponding period a year ago.
GMB ports handled traffic of 231 mt in 2010-11 which constitutes 26 per cent of the total national cargo handled. The traffic handled by GMB ports was up by over 12 per cent at 231 mt in 2010-11 versus 205.51 mt in 2009-10.
