Deendayal port retains top slot, Paradip sees highest growth rate

Deendayal Port stood first for the 16th year in a row by handling 137.56 million tonnes accounting for a growth of 8.2 per cent over the previous year. JNPA handled a throughput of 83.86 million tonnes with a growth rate of 10.35 per cent compared to 76 million tonnes the previous year

Visakhapatnam: Despite stiff competition, Deendayal Port has retained the top rank whereas Paradip Port Authority (PPA) achieved the highest ever growth of 19.2 million tonnes (16.56 per cent) of traffic since its inception according to the official sources.

This was also the highest growth rate among major and non-major ports, PPA Chairman PL Haranadh told Bizz Buzz on Wednesday. PPA has contributed 19.2 million metric tonnes ie 25.6 per cent out of the total growth in cargo handling achieved by all the major ports during FY 2022-23.

The top ranks have remained the same this year with Deendayal on top followed by PPA, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), a senior official of VPA said. VPA finished with traffic of 73.50 million tonnes – the highest since its inception in 1933 achieving a growth rate of 7 per cent compared to 69.03 million tonnes handled the previous year.

Incidentally, Deendayal Port stood first for the 16th year in a row by handling 137.56 million tonnes accounting for a growth of 8.2 per cent over the previous year. JNPA handled a throughput of 83.86 million tonnes with a growth rate of 10.35 per cent compared to 76 million tonnes the previous year. JNPA, which has India's container terminal, handled 76.19 tonnes of container traffic.

Another highlight during 2022-23 was that in its 153 years history, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port-Kolkata (SMP-Kolkata) which includes Kolkata Dock System and Haldia Dock Complex, for the first time handled 65.66 million tonnes recording highest ever throughput with a growth rate of 12.87 per cent.

Earlier, it surpassed the ministry's target of 61 million tonnes collectively and individually at both the dock systems.

PPA’s big plans ahead

Harnadh said they wanted to achieve 100 per cent mechanisation at PPA by 2030 with the mechanisation of existing four semi-mechanised berths. PPA has decided to add four more berths for which requisite approval will be taken during the current financial year.

He said as part of its port-lead industrialisation initiatives, PPA has allotted 769 acres to various industries with projected investment of than Rs.8700 crore. This will bring an additional cargo of 50 million tonnes.

PPA, which is increasing its capacity over the past few years due to rapid expansion, will be increasing its rated capacity from 289 million tonnes to over 300 million tonnes in another three years with the commissioning of Western Dock project.

The Western Dock project with 25 million tonnes capacity has been awarded to JSPL during FY 2022-23. The project will also increase the draught of the port, enabling PPA to handle cape vessels by 2026 to ensure faster evacuation of cargo.