Feb 21, 2023, 7:13:39 AM
SMP, Kolkata attains new high in cargo handling
Mr P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMP, Kolkata) has highlighted that the port handled an all-time high cargo traffic of 54.254 million tonnes (mt) during April 2022 to January 2023, compared to 47.282 mt in the same period of the previous year, thereby registering a growth of 14.75% which is much higher than the national average.
He also pointed out that SMP, Kolkata was ranked 5th in cargo handling amongst the Major Ports during the period, as against 6th in the previous fiscal.
Highlighting some of the other performance figures during the period under review, he said Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) handled 40.162 mt vis-à-vis 34.749 mt, an increase of 15.58%.
Kolkata Dock System (KDS) handled 14.092 mt as against 12.533 mt, up 12.44%.
During April 2022 to January 2023, SMP, Kolkata handled rail-borne traffic of 28.823 mt (KDS-4.92 mt, HDC-23.903 mt) against 24.974 mt (KDS-4.91 mt, HDC-20.064 mt) in April 2021 to January 2022, registering a growth of 15.41%. 1,221 rakes were received and 1,249 despatched at KDS; at HDC, 5,293 rakes were received and 5,300 despatched.
The major commodities that contributed to the growth in traffic during the period were LPG, vegetable oils, other liquids, manganese ore, iron & steel, pulses, coking coal, containers etc. at Kolkata Dock System (KDS), and POL (crude), LPG, other ores, coking coal, non-coking coal, fly ash, limestone etc. at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC).
The Chairman emphasised that this success has been achieved due to the growth in diverse cargo, new and additional cargo being handled, along with the port’s multi-faceted user-friendly measures like better services, improved facilities, cost-effective and customer-friendly charges, as well as the all-out efforts of the port employees.
SMP, Kolkata is projected to handle more than 65 million tonnes by the end of 2022-23 as against 58.175 million tonnes in 2021-22, he said.
