KV Rao, Chairman of Kakinada Deep Water Port informed a leading media that the port would spend Rs 650 crore over the next two years on dredging activity.
The dredging activity is intended to increase depth of the entrance channel to 16 metre from the present 14 metre, reports suggest.
The port authority expects to complete the dredging project by December 2014 after which the port can allow up to 150,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) vessels as against current capacity of only 70,000 DWT vessels.
The project would enable the port to raise its cargo handling capacity, while reducing freight charges for customers, who hire larger vessels.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that port expects more revenues once the proposed LNG terminals, planned by Shell and GAIL at an investment of about Rs 7,000 crore, are commissioned.
These terminals would increase the availability of LNG in the region and thereby would contribute to industrial growth. Each of the terminal will have an initial capacity of 5 million ton.
The port authority plans to commission the mechanised handling facility for coal in two months. The fertiliser berth would also be mechanised in the next one year. With this, the port expects its coal and fertiliser handling capacity to double.
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