Kandla Port in expansion mode

In a bid to consolidate its position as one of the largest ports in India, Kandla Port Trust (KPT) is undertaking several measures including expansion of jetties, revision of rentals on storage and to achieve the laid down expansion targets. The measures are collectively aimed at taking up KPT's total handling capacity from 120 million tons (MT) as on date to 180 mt by 2020. For this, KPT is enhancing both liquid and dry cargo handling capacities at the major port. To begin with, since February this year, KPT started handling container cargo as well. With coastal movement of cargo, growth in container cargo would come to KPT. Container is the future of port business. Already this year from Kandla to Chabahar port in Iran, a 300 containers vessel has gone with a consignment of basmati rice. The Chabahar port is being jointly developed by KPT (40% equity) along with JNPT (60% equity). However, in liquid cargo, lately Kandla port had begun witnessing storage capacity constraints that led to auctioning of plots for inviting more tank storage owners.