Gangavaram port, built by a private consortium headed by D.S Raju and Co, is ready for inauguration, but the event is being delayed for the past few months, as the UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, has to give a date for the function. It is now learnt that she may agree to inaugurate the port in November, probably in the first week itself. According to Mr M. Venkata Ramana Rao, the State Minister for Ports, the date has not been fixed, but it may take place in November. Though the port has not been formally opened, it has already handled four, or more, vessels on a trial basis. Five berths are ready for operation in the first phase. The berths and the other infrastructure have been built at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore.
Gangavaram port, it is apprehended, will emerge as a major rival to the main Visakhapatnam port, which has already slipped to the second position ever since the last fiscal from a position of pre-eminence for seven successive years.
Vizag port has handled 33 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of the current financial year, surpassing the target, but still finishing behind Kandla, and the port has to face much tougher competition once the new port gets going fully. At such a critical time, the Vizag port is without a full-fledged chairman. Mr K.R Kishore demitted office last month and for more than a month the Deputy Chairman, Mr M.S Rao, has been officiating as the in-charge chairman.
Trade union leaders are critical of the delay in appointing the new chairman. Mr V.V Rama Rao, a member of the VPT and trade union leader, feels the Government should expedite matters and appoint the Chairman immediately. “It sends the wrong signals at a time when the port has to gear up fully and face the new port, if the Government delays the decision. There should not be laxity on any front,” he said.
The Government should do everything possible to protect the interests of the main port, he said.
Gangavaram port, it is apprehended, will emerge as a major rival to the main Visakhapatnam port, which has already slipped to the second position ever since the last fiscal from a position of pre-eminence for seven successive years.
Vizag port has handled 33 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of the current financial year, surpassing the target, but still finishing behind Kandla, and the port has to face much tougher competition once the new port gets going fully. At such a critical time, the Vizag port is without a full-fledged chairman. Mr K.R Kishore demitted office last month and for more than a month the Deputy Chairman, Mr M.S Rao, has been officiating as the in-charge chairman.
Trade union leaders are critical of the delay in appointing the new chairman. Mr V.V Rama Rao, a member of the VPT and trade union leader, feels the Government should expedite matters and appoint the Chairman immediately. “It sends the wrong signals at a time when the port has to gear up fully and face the new port, if the Government delays the decision. There should not be laxity on any front,” he said.
The Government should do everything possible to protect the interests of the main port, he said.