Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM/NR)

Mangalore, Aug 25: During this financial year, the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT),  handled 14.14 million tonnes of traffic, stated a press release by P Tamilvanan, chairman,  New Mangalore Port Trust, here on Friday August 24.

This in effect means that compared to last year, this year the overall increase in traffic is at the rate of 15.85 per cent. Container traffic too has shown an increase of 32 per cent increase. This is largely due to marketing efforts undertaken by the port as well as up-gradation of infrastructure such as purchase of reach stacker, extension and hardening of container stack yard and increasing reefer plug points.

The port has already handled 0.8 million tonnes of freight traffic last year and this year too it has handled 1.95 million tonnes, which is an increase of 124 per cent compared to last year, noted the press release.

Moreover, the port has made all efforts to renovate the entire existing five rail lines and it has constructed platforms and installed high-mast lights to enable round-the-clock operations. All with a view to coordinate efforts towards the final commissioning of Hassan-Mangalore rail line by May 2008.

Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited has also made an effort by adding four more lines in its endeavor towards having a dedicated freight corridor within the port, he said.

All these activities have paved the way for smooth passage of railway traffic, informed the press release.