A joint business meet, organised by Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) and its container terminal Bharat Kolkata Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of PSA, was held at Taj Bengal on June 12, 2018. The event was graced by Mr Vinit Kumar, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust, Mr S. Balaji Arunkumar, Deputy Chairman, senior officials of the port and PSA, port users, and members of the trade fraternity.
The event saw Kolkata Port Trust and PSA jointly unveil an elaborate container terminal expansion and upgradation plan. Container cargo throughput at Kolkata Dock was 6.4 lakh TEUs in the last financial year. The two dock systems of Kolkata and Haldia, under Kolkata Port Trust, have set a target of handling 1 million TEUs in the current financial year, it was highlighted. By 2020, Kolkata Dock alone expects to handle 1 million TEUs of container traffic. The Master Plan for upgradation of the container terminal proposed at the meet includes large scale development of the area for container storage, thereby doubling the yard capacity, increasing the number of mechanised container berths, overhauling of rail lines, and digitisation of documentation at the terminal.
Mr Vinit Kumar said that though the target was very ambitious, Kolkata Port, with support from the trade, was hopeful of achieving it. He stressed that the port is always with the trade, listens to their requirements continuously and makes serious efforts to resolve their issues.
Mr S. Balaji Arunkumar elaborated on the large-scale development of yard space at Kolkata terminal, repairing of the roads and adjoining drains in the port’s vicinity and overhauling of the rail network. He said that very soon the terminal will have full length rail loading, which will benefit rail imports to Nepal and increase rail exports through Kolkata.
The Managing Director of PSA India, Mr Mike Formoso, thanked the Port Trust for its continued support and also assured full support to the port in achieving its mission and vision, the release pointed out.
The port users and members of the trade appreciated the recent ease of doing business initiatives implemented at Kolkata Dock, which have seen a positive response from the trade. They urged the port to further improve productivity. Representatives from the trade unanimously backed the “Mission Million” plan of the port and pledged their support for the same.
