Gandhidham, 8 November, 2011

Central Shipping Minister G.K.Vasan today performed groundbreaking for Rs 544 construction work of three new jetties. Three firms Rash infrastructure private limited, J.R.E infrastructure private limited and PSL infrastructure private limited are going to construct these three jetties no. 13, no. 15 and no. 16.

He also performed groundbreaking for Rs. 27 crore IFCO Kishan Bazar and Logistics barge jetty. Once ready all four jetties together will increase cargo handling capacity by 8 million metric tonne.

Central minister also dedicated Rs 28.32 crore mobile harbor crane. This 63 tonne crane will increase handling capacity by 2.4 million metric tone.

Central minister inaugurated Gujarat’s first marine education campus under Indian Maritime University.

Kandla is witnessing development works after long time. Due to CBI investigation, developmental works were stalled for a long time.

-New facility will ease congestion in country’s largest port in terms of cargo handling.
-The new berths and jetty will increase the annual cargo handling capacity.
-Indian Maritime University campus will offer degree and diploma courses. IMU has campuses at Kolkata, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam and cochin presently. At Kandla campus the first batch of 30 students for the course of Diploma in Nautical Science leading to Masters has already been started.
-Construction will be completed within two years as per the plan.

Related govt release
G.K Vasan Inaugurates Sixth Campus of Indian Maritime University

The sixth Campus of Indian Maritime University (IMU) was inaugurated by Shri G.K Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping at Kandla today. Shri K Mohandas, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Shri P.D Vaghela, Chairman, Kandla Port Trust (KPT) and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Campus started functioning from 22nd August 2011 with 30 Cadets for one year Diploma course in Nautical Science. The entire expenses for creation of infrastructure facilities for Campus are being borne by Kandla Port Trust. Indian Maritime University (IMU), the first of its kind in India, has been established as a Central University by the Government of India by an Act of Parliament, namely, the Indian Maritime University Act, 2008. Presently, it has six campuses, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Cochin and now in Kandla.

The University aims to achieve a high degree of excellence and to become renowned as a University of global standing. It is a teaching and affiliating University which is presently offering undergraduate and post graduate degrees. It has plans to introduce an assortment of new courses based on the versatile needs of the maritime sector. Within a span of two years, the University has already set high standards in the field of maritime education and training. The vision of University is to create an intensive learning maritime community, strongly networked with contributing to the domestic and global maritime knowledge pool besides being committed to modifying domestic and global maritime organisation and policy concerns and issues through debate and research.

Kandla Port to Achieve 100 MMT per Annum Capacity within 2 Years

The Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G. K. Vasan laid the foundation stones for new PPP projects at berths No.13,15,16 and IFFCO jetty at Kandla Port and dedicated the newly installed Mobile Harbour cranes today. He also inspected the ongoing trial run of the Vessel Traffic Management System for Gulf of Kutch centre at Kandla.

He later reviewed the performance of Kandla Port with the officers and met various stakeholders of the port and discussed the issues requiring attention of the Central Government for further growth of the Port and the Port city. He stated that the Government is fully aware of the issues of Kandla Port and that the proposals of developmental activities are being pursued with concerned Ministries. He sought full co-operation and support of all concerned to realize the huge potential of the port.

He expressed satisfaction that the Port is going to become 100 MMTPA Port in near future after implementing the projects in hand. The Port has big plans for Road, Rail connectivity and Storage besides augmenting of infrastructural facilities like berths and cranes.

Construction of Berths Nos. 13, 15 and 16, for which the foundation stones were laid, are to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 544 crore. These berths have a handling capacity of 6 million tonnes per annum. The barge jetty, of IFFCO Kisan Bazar & Logistic Ltd, will also be of 2 million tonnes capacity with the estimated cost being Rs 27 crore. The Rs 28.32 crore mobile harbour cranes is of 63-tonne capacity with handling capacity of 2.4 million metric tons per annum.

Shri K. Mohandas, Secretary, Shipping; Mrs. Poonamben Jat, MP, Kutch and other dignitaries were also present.