Friday, January 28, 2011

Indian Port Sector Crosses one Billion Tonne Cargo Handling Capacity

Three Major Port Projects Inaugurated at Ennore Port

A function was organised on 28.01.2011 at Ennore Port to commemorate the achievement of aggregate cargo handling capacity of Indian Port Sector crossing One Billion tonnes. The occasion coincided with the inauguration of three major projects with a total capacity of 15 MTPA implemented at Ennore Port, namely the Common User Coal Terminal, Iron Ore Terminal and Car Terminal. With inauguration of these three projects, the capacity of Indian Port Sector has reached to 1011 million tonnes per year. The Inauguration of the three terminals was done by Shri G.K.Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping and Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister of Textiles. Shri K.Mohandas, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India was present to celebrate the occasion. 

This occasion is a sequel to the recently released Maritime Agenda 2010-20 in Delhi on January 13, 2011 wherein the Union Minister of Shipping had outlined the developmental goals for the Indian Maritime Sector in order to meet the requirements of trade and industry. The Maritime Agenda intends to develop the Indian Ports Capacity to 3200 million tonnes by 2020.

While delivering his welcome address, Shri S.Velumani, Chairman cum Managing Director, Ennore Port Limited outlined the achievements of Ennore Port within a short span of ten years of its commercial operations. He stressed the determination of the port to undertake further capacity expansion projects as charted out in order to realise its full potential. Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, Mr.Kazuo Minagawa Consul General of Japan, senior officials of the Ministry and Chairmen of all Major Ports were present in the function.

The Union Minister of Shipping Shri G.K.Vasan while complimenting the Indian Port Sector on this occasion underlined the need of developing the port sector capacity further in order to keep pace with the growth of the overall Indian economy. Shri Vasan recalled the journey of Ennore Port, the first Corporate Major Port, from a coal handling port, as conceived originally, to an all cargo port having the potential to develop as a hub port of the eastern coast. The inauguration of the car terminal at Ennore Port is a testimony of its capability for diversification.

In his address the Union Minister of Shipping outlined brief features of three projects two of which namely the Common User Coal and Iron Ore Terminals have been developed through private sector participation on BOT basis while Car Terminal has been developed by the port through its own resources. The Common User Coal Terminal having a capacity of 8 million tonnes per annum has been developed with an investment of Rs.399.13 crores. The Iron Ore Terminal has an aggregate capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum, out of which the first phase development having the capacity of 6 million tonnes per annum with an investment of Rs.360 crores has been inaugurated in this function. The Car terminal has been developed by the port with an investment of Rs.110 crores through it own resources.

The Union Minister of Shipping further highlighted the environmental friendliness of these three projects and expressed the hope that Ennore Port in coming years would contribute to the overall economic development of Tamil Nadu in a substantial manner.

The Union Minister of Textiles Shri Dayanidhi Maran in his special address complimented Indian Ports fraternity and the Ennore Port for achieving such significant milestones. While stressing the need for more capacity building in Indian Port Sector Shri Maran expressed the hope that the goals of Maritime Agenda would be realised by the port sector within the stipulated time frame.

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