|
Visakhapatnam Port Trust commenced the finalisation process of bids for three projects worth Rs 1,800 crore on 27 March 2013.
Container terminal extension project involving an investment of Rs 633 crore, Mechanization and upgradation project of existing facilities at iron ore handling complex (OHC) with an investment of Rs 845 crore, West Quay-7 (WQ-7) and West Quay-8 (WQ-8) project worth Rs 393 crore at Visakhapatnam port are the three projects undertaken on DBFOT basis.
The Union Ministry of Shipping figures state that the total capacity of Visakhapatnam Port as on 31 January 2013 was 66.33 million tonne. Visakhapatnam Port Trust plans to invest Rs 13,940 crore on the several ongoing projects to increase the capacity to 149 million tonne by 2019-20.
Capacity augmentation wise, the year 2012-13 has been quite bleak for Visakhapatnam Port as between April 2012 to January 2013 only one million tonne was added to the Port’s total capacity. As on 19 March 2013, only one capacity augmentation project, the Relocation of Jetties/facilities for Tugs/ harbour crafts in SL canal project worth Rs 31.62 crore, was awarded by Visakhapatnam Port in 2012-13.
Traffic handled by Visakhapatnam Port during April 2012 to February 2013 also showed a drop as compared with the traffic handled during April 2011 to February 2012. During April 2012 to February 2013 traffic handled by Visakhapatnam Port was 53.9 million tonne, while during April 2011 to February 2012 traffic handled by Visakhapatnam Port was 62.2 million tonne which indicates a drop of 13.25 per cent in the traffic handled.
Slowing economy, high prices of fertilisers in the international market and competition from nearby ports like Paradip Port are some of the reasons for decline in Visakhapatnam Port’s traffic.
However, Visakhapatnam Port did see a positive growth in container handling, with a growth of 11.9 per cent in tonnage and 9.5 per cent in handling TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).
Less port projects awarded
As for the port sector as a whole, the Ministry of shipping was able to award only 27 projects worth Rs 6,302.31 crore against a target of awarding 42 projects worth Rs 14,500 crore investment, aimed at augmenting major ports capacity by 245 million tonne, in 2012-13.
These 27 projects when completed will augment the capacity of the 12 major ports by 115.04 million tonne instead of the targeted 245 million tonne.
As on 31 January 2013, the total capacity of the 12 major ports in India combined was 696.53 million tonne, while the total capacity of the major as well as the non-major ports was 1227.43 million tonne.
Maritime Agenda 2010-20 has estimated that investment required in new projects of major ports will be Rs 109,449.40 crore of which Rs 72,878.20 crore is expected to come through private sector participation and the balance Rs 36,571.20 crore to be funded by the government agencies through internal and external budgetary support.
|