Mangaluru :

New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has given fillip to industrialization in Karnataka by means of offering most comparative rates as compared to other major ports. The port has given all facilities to encourage coastal movement of traffic and now is the first Indian port to start the Ro-Ro service from Mangaluru to Hazira port, noted P C Parida, chairman, NMPT at the Republic Day celebration organized by the port at Dr B R Ambedkar Stadium, Panambur here.

Port has registered growth of 15% in container traffic. Based on Boston Consultant Groups report, port has taken steps to increase container traffic further and further develop container terminal by outsourcing container handling. Port has taken up upgradation of fire-fighting facilities to handle VLGCs and it shall be operational by September. NMPT is planning to have LNG terminal which shall be operational in 2017. This will facilitate citizens get clean fuel at cost effective rates.

To encourage agro products, port has already commissioned two warehouses and one is under construction. Under the green city project, the process of commissioning a 350-kW roof-top solar power plant is under progress which will meet the power requirement of administrative building, hospital building and guest house and street light. Port has planned to commission 5-mW solar power plant by November 2016 which will meet power requirement of the port.

Long pending demand of locals for fisheries harbor is in planning stage and work may commence from last quarter of this year. Under corporate social responsibility scheme, port has contributed Rs 98.5 lakh for providing LED street lights on the national highway from KIOCL junction to Bykampady. A similar project from KIOCL to Thannirbavi village too is under consideration, Parida said, thanking the employees for their participation in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mangalore / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / January 26th, 2016