Vizag port to get cruise-cum-coastal cargo terminal

The Centre has approved the proposal to develop a cruise-cum-coastal cargo terminalat the outer harbour here at a cost of Rs 77 crore, said chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust M T Krishna Babu Friday.

Addressing reporters after inaugurating the command control centre at the port, Babu said the project involves construction of a new berth, development of a back-up area behind the berth with internal roads, sewer, water supply and drainage system, parking facilities and illumination of the areas.

One of the major cruise lines has included Visakhapatnam in its itinerary and its ship would berth at the port during January-February, which would boost cruise tourism here, he said.

As part of the port development activity, the command control centre was planned with a view to providing centralised control for monitoring the entire operational activities, Babu said.

Operational officers and senior supervisors from the marine, traffic, railways, CISF and mechanical and electrical engineering would be posted at the centre, he said. The centre also has the functionality of real-time interaction with external agencies such as the Coast Guard, Navy, marine police, customs and National Disaster Response Force during emergencies, Babu said.

It has advanced technological features like CCTV footage round-the-clock from80 high-resolution, high-definition cameras positioned at various operational locations for effective surveillance, he said.

On the performance of the port, its chairman said cargo traffic was continuing on the growth pattern for the third successive year and the target for the current financial year 2018-19 was 66 million tonnes.

An incremental volume of 2.46 million tonnes

over 63.54 million tonne handled during the previous year

2017-18 was to be realized so as to achieve the target, he

said.

A total of 43.03 million tonne was handled till

November this year as against 40.95 million tonne during the

corresponding period last year and an incremental volume of

2.08 million tonne was achieved in the first eight months of

2018-19, he said. PTI COR

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