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Ctg port can now handle probable transit load : CPA chief |
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Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Commodore R U Ahmed today said the country's prime seaport was now capable of handling enhanced volume of export-import trade as its overall capacity went up significantly.
"Though giving transit facility to neighbouring countries depends on a high-level government decision, the port is also capable of absorbing the pressure if such facility is extended right now," he told a press conference in the CPA Training Institute auditorium on the occasion of the 122nd Port Day.
Senior CPA officials including Member (Engineering) Captain Zobair Ahmed, Member (Harbour and Marine) Captain S Arif Mahmud and Member (Finance) Harun Meah were, among others, present at the press conference.
Commodore R U Ahmed said the port has achieved tremendous progress in all key-areas including physical infrastructure, productivity and operational activities following implementation of drastic reform programmes and some development schemes.
'Turn-around time' of ships came down to 2.48 days on an average in 2008 from 5.02 days in 2007 while 'container dwell time' came down to 18.28 days on an average in 2008 from 22.92 days in 2007, the conference was told.
The CPA chairman said the port handled 2.82 crore metric tons of cargoes in 2008 while the volume was 2.76 in 2007. It handled 10,69,999 TUEs (Twenty Equivalent Units) of containers in 2008 and 9,58,20 TUEs in 2007.
He said container storage capacity of the port was doubled in 2008 from 16,397 TUEs in 2006. The capacity would increase further if already completed Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) is brought under full-scale operation. Replying to a question, the CPA chairman said the government has already appointed a consulting firm to construct the deep-sea port and such a giant establishment is very much needed for the country in line with the plan to turn Chittagong as regional transhipment hub. About resumption of normal trade union activities under the jurisdiction of the port, he said the government was considering the issue actively taking into account the local and international labour laws.
Commodore R U Ahmed said construction work of Taka 154.08 crore Inland Container Terminal at Pangaon in Narayanganj was progressing fast while that of back-up facilities for terminal No. 4 and 5 of NCT at a cost of Taka 114.48 is likely to begin from June 2011.
He said the CPA has also taken up two giant projects, one at an estimated cost of Taka 411.72 crore for conducting capital dredging of Karnaphuli river channel and constructing protection walls for both sides of the river banks, and the other for construction of a 600-meter-long specialised feeder vessel handling facility "Karnaphuli Container Terminal" for further capacity building of the port.
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