Cargo traffic at 12 major ports up 3.67% in April-October

NEW DELHI: Cargo volume handled by country's 12 major ports rose by 3.67 per cent to 347.88 million tonnes during April-October 2015 over the same period a year ago.

The state-run ports had handled 335.57 million tonnes (MT) of cargo during April-October 2014.

Kandla Port handled the maximum 57.31 MT of cargo during the period, which was up 4.79 per cent against 54.69 MT during April-October 2014.

Paradip Port handled 42.50 MT, during the first seven months of the current fiscal. The port had handled 40.27 MT during the same period a year ago.

JNPT at Mumbai handled 37.38 MT while Mumbai Port handled 36.12 MT and Visakhapatnam port handled 32.97 MT of cargo respectively during April-October period.

Chennai handled 29.97 MT, Kolkata 29.16 MT, New Mangalore 19.58 MT, VO Chidambaranar 21.78 MT, Kamarajar (Ennore) 18.36 MT, Cochin 13.11 MT and Mormugao 9.59 MT during the April-October period.

Mormugao port registered the highest growth of 25.27 per cent during the period followed by V O Chidambaranar 19.06 per cent growth.

There are 12 major ports under the control of the Centre besides 187 minor/intermediate ports under the jurisdiction of states along the 7,517 km long coastline of the country.

The 12 major ports - Kindle, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) handle approximately 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic.