Krishnapatnam Port First Anniversary
Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL)celebrates its first anniversary on July 17, 2009. Post the completion of first phase, in a record time of 18 months, it was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation a year ago by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Hon’ble Chairperson UPA.
Though port is in its maiden year, it is handling a wide range of cargo mix varying from iron ore, coal, coke, fertilizers, project cargo, raw sugar, granite, quartz, rock phosphate & gypsum and has brought in 8.4 Million MT of cargo in FY 2008-09.
The port is being built in three phases and it has recently achieved Rs. 4,000/- crore financial closure for the 2nd phase of development especially at a time when the world economic conditions are apprehensive on new investment strategies. This has only been possible since KPCL has numerous strengths like its area, location, weather and the credentials of CVR group that is promoting this port.
Krishnapatnam Port’s master plan includes 42 berths with a total Quay length of 12.5 kms and draft of 20 mtrs, capable of handling 200,000 DWT super capesize vessels. It has a huge back up area of 6500 acres for transit storage that will house a dedicated container terminal, an import hub port for coal for the 14000 MW power projects coming up in its vicinity, an export hub port for iron ore along with the capacity to handle fertilizers, petrochemicals, break bulk cargo, project cargo and automobiles. It will also have shipbuilding & repairing facilities along with world class bunkering, rig repairing and offshore facilities.
As compared to other major ports in India, Krishnapatnam port has state-of-the-art equipments, excellent connectivity, strong security systems, end-to-end services with single window clearance provision, along with integrated real time control of cargo handling and management information system for smooth functioning of operations at the port.
