The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has tied up with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the repair works of two dry docks at Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) and for setting up a state of the art facility for ship repair works on the Eastern Coast. Several other development projects have also been taken up by KoPT.

Addressing a Press conference today, the KoPT chairman, Mr Vinit Kumar, pointing out the achievements and upcoming projects of the Port Trust said “The KoPT has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for operations and maintenance of ship repair facility at the Netaji Subhas Docks (NSD). The two initiatives under the MoU will aim towards revamping of the two dry docks at NSD and setting up infrastructure for ship repairing. The CSL will set up a state of the art facility for ship repairing on the Eastern Coast which will also help in generating jobs in and around the area. In another one year, the facility will be made operational.”

Mr Kumar added that the scope in monetary terms for ship repairs at the dry docks in the next three to four years will be around Rs 50 crore per annum. The capacity of the dry docks post repair works will be 16 to 18 ships annually.

The existing set up which has been lying non-functional from 2015 could accommodate 10 to 12 ships per annum. Talking about expenditures and profit sharing per cent in the initiative, the chairman said “The CSL will be investing Rs 20-25 crore for the purpose while KoPT will provide them with the dry docks. The profit sharing percentage will be in a 60/ 40 ratio ~ 60 per cent CSL and 40 per cent KoPT.”

On being asked whether this tie-up between KoPT and CSL will also include ship manufacturing, the chairman pointed out that a separate venture ~ Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited ~ is already building ships at their facility at Nazirgunj and Salkia.

Speaking on other development works, Mr Kumar said “The KoPT has also taken up four new projects at a cost of Rs 18 crore that is aimed at increasing the stacking area of 1.03 lakh sq.mtrs by 26000 sq.mtrs. This will help accommodate more trucks and avoid congestion in NSD container terminal.”

“One of the constraints that we were facing in Kolkata was the lack of railway line for loading full rakes with containers. For loading containers, we had to divide the train into two halves and load containers. This was taking atleast 10-12 hours. We have now sanctioned the work of two full rake lines which will run two complete rakes of containers.”

In addition to these, the road repair works taken up by KoPT on Sonai and Sonarpur road will be completed in a month while the repair works on Transport Depot Road, Oil Installation Road, Strand bank Road and Kantapukur Road will be completed before monsoon this year, the chairman pointed out. The chairman further pointed out that for the ease of doing business in Kolkata Dock System (KDS), everything has now been made online.