Gopalpur Port (GPL) would begin full-fledged operation within a month after rectification of defects, if any, following the test run, a top official of the port said.
Since 2010, the port operation had been stopped for its upgradation to an all weather port. Before 2010, the port, located at Arjeepalli was functioning as a seasonal port.
As a trial run, a small vessel was recently loaded with around 7,500 metric tonne of ilmenite for ferrying to South Korea. With this, the all-weather port in south Odisha started commercial operation. After Gopalpur was declared as an all weather port, this was the first vessel anchored in the port.
MM Moharana, Director (operation) of GPL expects more vessels to come to the port to carry export cargo of iron ore, other minerals and food grains.
On May 14, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and customs department granted approval for the operation of the port.
The port authority constructed a multi-purpose berth with a capacity to handle 3.50 million tonne of cargo. Two more berths would be added very soon to handle more cargo.
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