PANJIM: The much discussed ferry project between Vasco, Donna Paulo and Panjim is closer to fruition with the expression of interest been floated. In addition two parties have expressed an interest in resuming the Goa –Mumbai boat service which was discontinued a decade earlier due to a fall in demand. This was revealed by the chairman of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), Cyril George, at a press conference on Tuesday.
The chairman revealed that MPT has managed to reduce its loss from Rs 105 crore to Rs 40 crore. It had recorded an operating surplus of Rs 30.22 crore against a loss of Rs 29.60 crore in 2013-14.
The port he said had an operating income of Rs 272.74 crore for 2014-15 an increase of 28.97% over the operating income the previous financial year. All this he said was the outcome of a very intensive plan to change the port from a single product ie coal dependent port to one that was now being increasingly used by different industries to send their goods out.
Steel products at 51% now accounted for the bulk with iron ore second at 18% with container at 5% slowly picking up.
The chairman revealed that concerted efforts were being made to attract the large pharma industry to use the sea lanes to Mumbai. He claimed a transport lobby was working to ensure that pharmaceuticals would continue to be transported by road. An aide to the chairman revealed that since the sea lane was a new route many still wanted to use the tried and tested and since most of the decisions were taken in Mumbai, the safe route was taken.
The aide claimed that if one used the Mormugao Port Trust , then the container would move straight to JNPT and would not have to wait outside the port if the driver missed the 24 deadline present in Mumbai which would then delay him for 24 hours.
The port had also made efforts to attract cruise traffic and during the financial year the port hosted 26 high end luxury cruise ships carrying over 21,084 tourists and 9,894 crew. This was an increase of 44% in cruise traffic as compared to 18 handled during 2013-14.
The chairman revealed that they expected around 32 cruise liner to come in this year. To facilitate this the port was now constructing an ultra-modern cruise terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 8.79 crore which will be completed by December 2016.
He went on to say that he was confident that the numbers would improve in the years to come given the master plan which had been created to help facilitate growth.
