The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Improve productivity: port tells staff

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Thursday, Jul 02, 2009
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Improve productivity: port tells staff

Staff Reporter

Appeal comes in the wake of Rs.15-crore loss in the last financial year

— Photo: K.K. Mustafah

HARD TIMES: Export containers stacked at the Kochi port.

KOCHI: Cochin Port Trust authorities have appealed to their employees and trade unions to work hard to improve productivity and profitability in all areas of port activity as the port looked ahead to another year of financial difficulties.

The appeal came after the board of trustees of the port reviewed the port’s performance for the last financial year, which ended with a net loss of nearly Rs.15 crore after operating income came down substantially.

The port authorities expect that the current phase of financial difficulties can be overcome by the end of 2010-11 when cargo handling was expected to rise significantly. The commissioning of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) (end of 2009-10) and the LNG re-gasification terminal on Puthuvype Island (2011-12) are expected to boost the port’s revenue considerably.

It is learnt that the port authorities had budgeted a loss of nearly Rs.40 crore during the current year owing to the downward revision in cargo rates after the shifting of the oil handling operations to the single-point mooring facility.

Plans approved

Meanwhile, the board of trustees have approved plans for providing power supply to the Port-based Special Economic Zone on Vallarpadam and Puthyvype Islands over two phases.

As per the current status, power supply will be available in the SEZ by the middle of October this year.

NTPC Electric Supply Company Limited was entrusted with the task of doing a feasibility study and a detailed project report. The company has submitted the detailed project report for Phase I work for power supply to the SEZ. A letter of intent has been issued to the company and Rs.50 lakh has been paid towards carrying out the work.

As per the agreement between the Port Trust and the NTPC company, technical bids were invited by the latter, which were opened in the middle of June. A2Z Maintenance and Engineering Services, Gurgaon, has been entrusted with the task of providing power supply infrastructure.

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