KPT plans expansion worth Rs. 1,256-cr
In order to increase its cargo handling capacity, the Kolkata Port Trust has chalked out an ambitious plan to launch seven key projects amounting to Rs 1,256-cr in the current financial year to push its tonnage handling and cargo handling capabilities. Of the targeted investment, Rs 370-cr will come from internal accruals while the port will opt for public-private partnerships (PPP) for the remaining Rs 886-cr and that the projects are slated for completion in the next two years. Among other projects, it is also setting up two outer riverine terminals with a consolidated capacity of 9.3 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) which will draw in a total capital expenditure of Rs 640-cr while Rs 250-cr will be pushed in developing 5 MMTPA mooring facilities at Sandheads in West Bengal for transhipment of liquid cargo. Another Rs 200-cr will be invested in setting up small-scale LNG storage and distribution terminal, Chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), M T Krishna Babu said.