New Delhi, June 23 : Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), which has handled around 3344 vessels among the Major Port Trusts in 2007-08, is taking up a number of projects under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) for augmenting its capacity and has recently commissioned two new berths No. 2 and 13 at a cost of approximately Rs. 87.00 crores.

Kolkata Port, in order to maintain the channel depth, is intensifying its maintenance dredging works. It is constrained by the problems relating to the draught availability in view of the siltation of the channel on River Hooghly. In case it is allowed to do dumping of the dredged material at the shore itself, the productivity of the dredgers would go up substantially as they would not have to go to distant dumping sites for dumping the dredged material.

The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T. R. Baalu today reviewed the working and performance of the Kolkata Port Trust.

He also asked the authorities to improve the draught at the Port.

It was disclosed during the meeting that the Feasibility Report of the Diamond Harbour Container Terminal Project is completed. The construction of Container Handling Jetties at Diamond Harbour is being planned in terms of the recommendations of the High Powered Committee set-up by the Ministry.

This would enable vessels to avail of higher draught in the navigable channel and also result in reduction in freight costs and turn-around time of vessels. (ANI)