Vizag Port Authority achieves over 11% growth

Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam Port Authority, which has achieved a growth rate of 11 per cent till date during the current fiscal, is confident of handling a throughput of 72 million tonnes by end of 2022-23.

In his Independent Day address after unfurling the tricolour at a parade organised by at port stadium as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, VPA Chairman K Rama Mohana Rao said due to hostile socio-economic conditions in the Europe and South East Asia coupled with general economic downturn, the IMF has pinned down the growth rate of India for the current financial year to 7.4 per cent.

"This is a serious concern to us as it will impact the cargo volumes handled by ports. However, India has been showing resilience to the unfavourable economic conditions backed up by domestic consumption and appropriate economic policies," he observed.

Major ports in India handled a volume of 260 million tonnes as compared to 235 million tonnes; achieving a growth of nearly 11 per cent over corresponding period of previous year.

Rao said VPA handled a volume of 26 million tonnes during April to August, 2022 as against 23.5 million tonnes in the corresponding period of last year. He said they have registered a growth of more than 11 per cent despite unfavourable conditions only with the patronage of exporters and importers.

He hoped that VPA will continue to grow and surpass 72 million tonnes in the current financial year to accomplish a new record in cargo handling with the continued patronage of our customers, partners and ambitious marketing strategies and improvements in efficiency.

"We have been relentlessly striving to elicit the requirements of our customers in order to provide services to their satisfaction on a continual basis. We have been working hard to bring navigational improvements by imparting training and upgrading skills of the pilots, tugs and mooring crew such as facilitating berthing of Cape size vessels at Vizag General Cargo Berth during night hours also," he stated.

Rao said they are implementing several developmental projects for improving efficiency. Approval of the government is obtained and RFP (Request for Participation) for mechanisation of WQ-7, WQ-8, EQ-7 and WQ-6 berths in the Inner Harbour at an estimated cost of Rs 655 crore through private investment, he disclosed, adding improving the capacity utilisation of OR-I & II berths in Inner Harbour has been taken up with internal resources. The Chairman said development of berth structure and terminal building for the project Cruise Terminal taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 51 crore is progressing. Work orders have been issued for construction of three storage sheds with the required amenities at a cost of Rs 106 crore.