Paradip, Feb. 21: Exporters will be able to trans-ship containerised cargoes from Paradip port as the facility has initiated the process to set up a small-scale container terminal.
It was decided in a recent meeting attended by officials of Container Corporation of India Limited and the Paradip Port Trust (PPT). The terminal is expected to become operational within four months, said PPT deputy chairman N. Vaiyapuri.
Exporters from the state dealing with garments, textiles, cement, rice, engineering goods and machinery, paper, granite, steel scrap and seafood exports would reap benefits through the containerised cargo handling system in Paradip port.
Director (project and services) of Container Corporation of India Limited V. Kalyan Rama recently visited the site for the container yard near the railway siding and evinced interest in setting up the terminal. The PPT would provide logistic support in form of two warehouses and open paved area for stockpiling of the containers. The project will cost Rs 10 crore, he said.
"Exporters from Odisha are being forced to divert their containerised cargoes to Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports as the PPT is not equipped to handle such goods and commodities. Containerised cargo berth is the need of the hour. It is a positive development that the PPT has taken steps to install the infrastructure," said PPT trustee member Bhuban Mohan Jena.
"While Odisha accounts for export of 23,000 tonnes of marine products annually, Paradip port does not figure in the export route. The seafood is trans-shipped in refrigerated containers - which the port is devoid of facility. While 70 per cent of these containers were routed through Visakhapatnam, the rest was sent via Calcutta port," said president of the Seafood Exporters' Association of India (Odisha chapter) Gorachand Mohanty.
At present, the PPT has containerised cargo handling facility only at a limited scale. The establishment of a full-fledged container terminal is the need of the hour as there has been a spurt in export and import of containerised cargoes in the recent times. Odisha is a major hub of marine produce in eastern India. Now, about 90 per cent of perishable marine produce from the state is being exported through Visakhapatnam and Haldia ports.