VPT handles 23.48-MT cargo in four months

Continuing its good show in cargo handling, Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) handled 23.48 million tonnes (MT) during April-July-the first four months of the current financial year.

VPT Chairman K Rama Mohana Rao, who reviewed the parade and hoisted the national flag on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, said they had achieved a growth of 12 per cent in the first quarter.

Rao conveyed greetings of Independence Day to all and said that VPT did well in the first quarter. All major ports in India handled a cargo volume of 236 million tonnes during first quarter of 2021-22 compared to 194 million tonnes of previous year. The increase was nearly 22 per cent.

According to him, VPT handled a volume of 23.48 million tonnes during April to July 2021 as against 21.03 MT of corresponding period of previous year registering 12 percent growth. For the achievement the Chairman appreciated the employees, officers and head of the departments for their efforts to improve efficiency. Rao said that in order to sustain in the business, ports have to improve efficiency levels and cut costs beyond expectations. He said ideally ports will have to turn around a ship in far less than two days and target at loading/unloading of cargo at about 40-50 thousand tonnes per day.

He also appreciated his gratitude towards PPP/BOT operators, Stevedoring companies, steamship agents and to the C&F agentribution of PPP investors, stevedoring, steamship, cargo handling agents and others for their unstinted support.

Port Deputy Chairman Durgesh Kumar Duby, CVO Pradeep Kumar and others were present.