Two dock systems under KoPT to handle 1m TEUs this year

Kolkata: The two dock systems of Kolkata and Haldia under Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has set a target of handling 1 million TEUs in the current financial year. Kolkata Dock is singularly expecting to handle 1 million TEUs of container traffic by 2020.

"Kolkata Port Trust jointly with its container terminal vendor M/s Bharat Kolkata Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of PSA, has made an elaborate container terminal expansion and upgradation plan. The master plan for the overhaul of the container terminal includes large scale development of the area for container storage which doubles the yard capacity, increasing the number of mechanised container berths, overhauling of rail lines and digitisation of documentation at the terminal," a senior official of KoPT said.

A joint business meet was recently held in this regard that was attended by KoPT chairman Vinit Kumar, deputy chairman S Balaji Arunkumar and other senior officials of port, PSA, members of the trade fraternity and other port users. It may be mentioned that the container cargo through Kolkata Dock was 6.4 lakh TEUs in the last financial year.

KoPT chairman Vinit Kumar stressed upon the port's focus on trade and said they are ready to resolve the issues faced by the users to facilitate trade. KoPT deputy chairman S Balaji Arunkumar

addressing the meet elaborated on the large-scale development of yard at Kolkata terminal, repairing of the roads and adjoining drains in port vicinity and the overhauling of the rail network.

He said very soon the terminal would have full length rail loading, which will benefit rail importers to Nepal and increase rail exports through Kolkata. The managing director, PSA India, Mike Formosa thanked KoPT for the continued support and assured full support to the port in achieving its mission and vision.

The port users and the members of trade appreciated the recent ease of doing business initiatives at Kolkata Dock that has seen a positive response from the trade and urged the port to improve the productivity further.

The trade representatives unanimously backed the "Mission Million" idea of the Port and pledged their support for the same.