Rs 1,500 crore VPT modernisation to be completed

VISAKHAPATNAM: The oldest harbour on the East Coast, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust is expected to emerge as the most modern port in the country by 2013. In order to check the pollution caused by bulk cargo dust, the VPT is modernising cargo handling with an investment of about Rs 1,500 crore. Postmodernisation, coal, iron ore and fertilisers will be handled by a mechanised conveyor system.
VPT chairman Ajeya Kallam told newsmen here on Wednesday that the port trust was gearing up for remedial measures to contain dust pollution by mechanisation of coal handling facilities at General Cargo Berth in the Outer Harbour of VPT at an estimated cost of `444.1 cr. The project had been awarded to Sterlite in June this year and would be completed by March 2012. Development of EQ1 and EQ1A berths for handling thermal coal and coal steam with full mechanisation at an estimated cost of `323.18 crore and `313.39 cr respectively was likely to be completed by March 2013, he said.On the mechanisation of iron ore to reduce dust pollution, Kallam said iron ore handling facilities at WQ1 berth would be mechanised in the inner harbour of VPT at acost of ` 275.2 crore.