The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : VPT to set up satellite port at Bheemli

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Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

VPT to set up satellite port at Bheemli

Santosh Patnaik

Idea conceived to take care of future cargo handling requirement of the region

Indian Maritime University asked to submit feasibility study on shifting the fishing harbour
New port work may be taken up under Public, Private Participation mode

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), which operates the country's second largest port, has decided in principle to set up a satellite port at the 17th century Dutch township of Bheemunipatnam, 25 km from here.

The new port idea is conceived to take care of future cargo handling requirement of the region. “We thought of setting up a satellite port as we have to spend a huge amount on shifting the fishing harbour from here to Mulakedu, the area pretty close to Bheemunipatnam, where we have our own site with waterfront area,” VPT Chairman Ajeya Kallam told The Hindu.

Land swap

VPT was given 167 acres at Mulakedu and 70 acres at Dolphin's Hill by the Revenue Department after it surrendered 250 acres to facilitate the modernisation of INS Dega airport.

The Indian Maritime University has been asked to submit a techno-economic feasibility study on shifting the fishing harbour. The present fishing harbour site will be used for expanding the port area.

Mr. Kallam said they had to spend Rs.300 to Rs.350 crore on setting up a fishing harbour by developing breakwater and a channel – the basic infrastructure required for a new harbour. “Hence, by building few more berths closer to it we will make the maintenance job easy,” he said.

PPP mode

Mr. Kallam, who is implementing an action plan to make Visakhapatnam Port truly world-class by 2012-13, said if possible, they would take up the new port work under Public, Private Participation mode.

A satellite port would provide freight advantage to logs being transported from here from Anandapuram and Thagarapuvalasa.

The VPT had handled a throughput of 65.5 million tonnes during 2009-10 – the highest after Kandla Port -- and is expected to handle almost the same cargo during the current fiscal.

Till mid-August, it handled 24 million tonnes of cargo.

Mechanisation

The port is spending in a big way on mechanisation. Nine BoT operators are involved with an investment of Rs.2,300 crore in addition to the port's spending on dredging and other logistic needs amounting to Rs.1,000 crore in the next two to three years.

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