PPT has grown enormously: Vasan

PARADIP: Impressed with the growth of Paradip port, Shipping Minister GK Vasan on Friday said the port is taking giant strides under a development plan to raise capacity substantially, build new berths and undertake a host of other expansion projects.Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has set a target to increase its present cargo handling capacity of 76 million tones. Once the capacity additions are made, the PPT - which is strategically located in the eastern India - would acquire the numero uno position in the port sector in the country by handling 250 million tones of cargo by 2020, informed Vasan. As part of the development plan approved by Shipping Ministry, work is underway at Paradip port to develop a channel to handle ships of 1.25 lakh DWT, Vasan said at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of PPT here.Stating that the port had grown immensely in 50 years, he said steps have been initiated for construction of special berths for handling coal and iron ore on BOT basis. Similarly, steps were taken for induction of  advanced technology and modern and efficient equipment, Vasan said. Hailing the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru and Biju Patnaik for the commission of Paradip port near Mahanadi river mouth. Union Minister of State for Fertiliser and Chemicals Srikant Jena, said more vessels would be engaged for Paradip port for discharging fertiliser to balance the cargo handling in absence of iron ore export. He proposed construction of a bridge on the Mahanadi river at Rs 500 crore for developing connectivity between Batighar and Paradip.Local legislator Damodar Rout sought the Centre’s intervention for removal of wreckage of the ill-fated Mongolian vessel mv Black Rose.  Shipping Secretary K Mohandas, PPT chairman G. Jagannath Rao and  deputy chairman AK Bose spoke. Vasan released a souvenir and special postal cover on the occasion and felicitated former chairman of port, best port user, best exporter, best stevedore and best shipping agent