Mumbai Port Trust (India) targets record cargo handling
After handling 50 million tonnes of cargo for the first time, Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) has said it will be able to achieve the 71 million tonnes target set for 2011-12.
The port, in 2006-07, has handled about 52.36 million tonnes of cargo against the Shipping Ministry's target of 49 million tonnes.
By crossing the 50-million tonnes mark, MPT has joined the league of four other ports, which have handled 50 million tonnes of cargo. The other ports are Vishakapatnam, Kolkata/Haldia, Chennai and Kandla.
The success for the port comes after it witnessed a decline in cargo handling. After touching a peak of 34.5 million tonnes cargo handling in 1996-97, it dropped to a low of 26.4 million tonnes in 2001-02.
Mumbai Port Trust Deputy Chairman Ashok Kumar Bal, giving reasons for the turnaround, said the port has been able to reduce the cost by taking over stevedoring, increasing transportation of containers and new initiatives, especially in the auto and offshore supply services.
"Our procedures have been automated. And we have facilitated the trade by taking over the collection of stamp duty and octroi," he said.
Despite the success, the Mumbai Port Trust is losing on one front: container traffic, which has been steadily declining because of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust that handles more than 50 per cent of the container business in India.
Mumbai Port Trust has chalked out its course of action to attain 71 million tonnes of cargo for 2011-12.
The port trust plans to increase the depth of the berths to 14.5 metres to handle overdimensional vessels.
It plans to build an offshore container terminal to handle 6,000 TEUs. Gammon India has bagged the terminal project, which is awaiting clearance from the Centre.
"We are redeveloping the harbour wall berth by extending and deepening it to a draft of 14.64 metres from 8.5 metres," Bal said.
The port plans to build a second chemical jetty with a capacity to handle 2 million tonnes and construct a fifth oil jetty to handle crude brought in by large ships.
The port, in 2006-07, has handled about 52.36 million tonnes of cargo against the Shipping Ministry's target of 49 million tonnes.
By crossing the 50-million tonnes mark, MPT has joined the league of four other ports, which have handled 50 million tonnes of cargo. The other ports are Vishakapatnam, Kolkata/Haldia, Chennai and Kandla.
The success for the port comes after it witnessed a decline in cargo handling. After touching a peak of 34.5 million tonnes cargo handling in 1996-97, it dropped to a low of 26.4 million tonnes in 2001-02.
Mumbai Port Trust Deputy Chairman Ashok Kumar Bal, giving reasons for the turnaround, said the port has been able to reduce the cost by taking over stevedoring, increasing transportation of containers and new initiatives, especially in the auto and offshore supply services.
"Our procedures have been automated. And we have facilitated the trade by taking over the collection of stamp duty and octroi," he said.
Despite the success, the Mumbai Port Trust is losing on one front: container traffic, which has been steadily declining because of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust that handles more than 50 per cent of the container business in India.
Mumbai Port Trust has chalked out its course of action to attain 71 million tonnes of cargo for 2011-12.
The port trust plans to increase the depth of the berths to 14.5 metres to handle overdimensional vessels.
It plans to build an offshore container terminal to handle 6,000 TEUs. Gammon India has bagged the terminal project, which is awaiting clearance from the Centre.
"We are redeveloping the harbour wall berth by extending and deepening it to a draft of 14.64 metres from 8.5 metres," Bal said.
The port plans to build a second chemical jetty with a capacity to handle 2 million tonnes and construct a fifth oil jetty to handle crude brought in by large ships.