Date:26/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022603571500.htm

Back Gangavaram port to be ready next year

Our Bureau

Trial runs planned for December

In the plan
29 berths and possibly a back-up port.
Current depth of 21 meters could go up to 35 meters.
Supported by a 2.2 km rail link to Vizag.
Port may integrate itself with the petrochemical region.

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Hyderabad Feb. 24 The country's deepest port at Gangavaram near Visakhapatnam, initially with five berths, will be ready for trial runs by December and commercial operations by March 2008.

The Vice-President, Gangavaram Port Ltd, Mr Pranav Choudhary, said the financial closure of the Rs 1700 crore project has been achieved. Construction work is at an advanced stage for 5 berths intended to handle coal, iron ore, steel, alumina, general cargo and liquid cargo. This would be backed by a jetty harbour.

The master plan envisages 29 berths and possibly a back-up port if the demand far outstrips what the port could handle down the line. The port has a depth of 21 meters and if required, could also reach 35 meters to allow large vessels to come through. The port would be supported by a 2.2 km rail link to Vizag, Mr Choudhary said.

Speaking at a meeting on natural gas here on Saturday, Mr Choudhary said that the port has been developed with flexibility to allow a quick ramp-up and will be backed by a logistics corridor with a support road and rail link.

The port sees itself providing significant synergies by integrating itself with the petrochemical region which is now being developed by the State in active cooperation with HPCL and other major industries in the region, including the Vizag Steel Plant. The hinterland is witness to significant investments from not just oil and petrochemical sectors but has huge gas supplies from the KG basin as well.

Several downstream industries have evinced interest in new projects here.

The port is backed by an exclusive right to development plan, covering 50 km, and the developers would not shy away from creating another facility for liquid handling, Mr Choudhary said.