Gopalpur Port likely to start cargo handling from March 31

The proposed all-weather Gopalpur port is expected to start cargo handling from March 31. According to Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) sources, one berth of the port would be completely ready to accept ships by then. Work on other two berths of this port is also continuing. Work on next two berths with all mechanisation was expected to be completed by end of December this year. The formal inauguration of the port was expected to be held after all the three berths of the port were ready for cargo handling.

The GPL was expected to send a formal request to the State government on March 18 to start cargo handling. After it the GPL authorities would start making contacts with old users of the Gopalpur seasonal port, other shipping users and stevedores to take advantage of this new port that has come up between ports of Paradeep and Visakhapatnam. The shipping companies would surely be interested in this port there would be less waiting time at Gopalpur port as it would have less crowd of ships which means less waiting charge for the shipping companies. It may be noted that the Gopalpur all weather port managed by the GPL would replace the old seasonal anchorage port. Since 2011 the GPL authorities had stopped cargo handling at this seasonal anchorage port to facilitate construction work for the all weather port.

The GPL had entered into an MOU with the Odisha government to take over the Gopalpur port and develop it into a major all-weather port on Build-Operate-Own-Share-Transfer (BOOST) basis. According to authorities of the GPL infrastructure development and construction work of the port was progressing as per the schedule. The breakwater to the south of the port had to be of 2170 metres long. Its 1700 metres was complete. The work of intermediate breakwater has been completed. The GPL is also constructing 11 groynes as part of its corporate social responsibility. Almost 80 per cent of the work of these groynes has been complete. As per the estimates of the GPL authorities this year they may handle around 2.40 million tonnes of cargo. The cargo handling capacity of the port would increase to around 25 million tonnes per annum in 2018. By end of this year the GPL was expected to invest Rs. 1,800 crore on this project.

Source: The Hindu