VPT stands fourth in cargo handling

Visakhapatnam: Despite serious challenges in the market, Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has handled nearly 61 million tonnes of cargo during current financial year (2017-18) till the end of January, 1.6 million tonnes more than during the corresponding period last year and it will be achieving the target of 64 million tonne by the end of the financial year, said chairman of VPT M.T. Krishna Babu.

Though Vizag Port has registered a growth of over 3 per cent in terms of cargo handling, Kandla Port Trust and Paradip Port Trust have emerged 1st and 2nd ranks while VPT managed to secure 4th position. Except for RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), there are no major industries in Vizag region importing or exporting bulk cargo, hence VPT’s  rank dropped, Mr Krishna Babu added.

Beach nourishing works: VPT has commenced work on beach nourishment by engaging Dredging Corporation of India for a month-long project to fill eroded RK Beach in Vizag city. The project will cost Rs 18.37 crore for which a DCI dredger laid the pipeline in the sea to collect and dump an estimated 3 lakh cubic metres of sand in vulnerable areas.