Vizag port falls short of cargo handling target

Visakhapatnam Port, which has been ranked number one in cargo handling among all the major ports in the country for the fifth consecutive year, may have to work hard to meet the target fixed by the shipping ministry during this fiscal to retain its pre-eminent position.

The port, as on date, is about 26 lakh tonnes short of the target.

In 2005-06, the port handled 558 lakh tonnes of cargo, about 56.5 lakh tonnes higher than the preceding year. Keeping this growth in mind, the ministry has fixed a target of 615.9 lakh tonnes for 2006-07.

"Even though it is an uphill task to reach the target with the existing infrastructure and berths, we hope to achieve this by optimum utilisation of the available resources," a senior official of the port, told Business Standard.

As per the target fixed by the shipping ministry, Vizag port should handle 180 lakh tonnes of petroleum products, 175 lakh tonnes of iron ore, 30 lakh tonnes of thermal coal, 85 lakh tonnes of coking and lam coal, 36 lakh tonnes of fertilisers and fertiliser raw materials, 102.7 lakh tonnes of other cargo and 7.20 lakh tonnes of container cargo by the end of this fiscal.

But the first two months of the current fiscal saw the port falling flat with a shortage of around 26 lakh tonnes. As against the target of 102.22 lakh cargo handling in the first two months (April and May) of this fiscal, the port could handle only 75.5 lakh.

Notwithstanding the initial hiccups, there is palpable optimism to win the race. "Actually, April and May months are dull season for cargo handling at the port. Cargo handling will increase from June onwards as iron ore vessels will start coming," sources said.