New Delhi , June 25 (ANI): Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru. T.R. Baalu reviewed the performance of Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) here today.

The record Traffic of 21.48 Metric Tonnes in the year 2007-08 with the cargo growth rate of 19.33 per cent was highlighted at the meeting along with the projection of cargo till 2020.

It was observed that Tuticorin Port has performed satisfactorily in terms of indicators such as average pre-berthing detention, average turnaround time, average ship birthday output including financial performance with the profit before tax of Rs.115.67 crores.

For capacity augmentation, Tuticorin Port has taken up various infrastructural development projects under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP).

Two projects which are conversion of the eighth berth as container berth and North Cargo berth II as multi cargo berth would be developed under Public Private Partnership within 2009-10.

Out of 24 NMDP Projects, four projects have already been completed in 2007-08 and six are nearing completion, three are under tendering process and the remaining eleven are in the pipeline including DPR preparation.

In the first phase of NMDP, a sum of Rs.1050 crore would be utilised for infrastructural development with the focus on dredging the dock basin and channel to cater 12.8 Mts. Draft vessels.

In the second phase of NMDP, a mega project which is Outer Harbour Development would be taken up at the cost of Rs.4350 crore for developing nine multipurpose berths with the draft of 14.5 Mtrs.

This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of eleventh five year plan i.e. 2011-12.

It may be recalled that the Government has recently approved the Capital Dredging of Inner Harbour at a cost of Rs.538 crore.

The Minister asked the Port Authorities to ensure the close monitoring and supervision of this project for timely completion.

For future projects such as Port based Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Dedicated Freight Corridor between Tuticorin and Nagpur and the Port Estate Expansion by acquiring adjoining Port areas, Baalu asked the Ministry officials to provide necessary support after TPT takes up the matter with the concerned agencies for earlier implementation.
The Minister said that all measures should be taken for strengthening the technical set-up of Port in view of the major development projects in NMDP and also for strengthening the Human Resources. (ANI)