Paradip: In a rare feat, Paradip port handled a record volume of 114.5 million metric tonnes of cargo during last financial year.
It is the highest among all the major ports in the country during the period, a top official said.
India’s second-biggest state-owned port achieved the feat overcoming the hurdles caused by outbreak of Covid-19 and Amphan cyclone.
According to sources, the port has handled more than 100 million metric tonnes of cargo for the fourth consecutive year. In 2018-19, the port had handled 112 million metric tonnes of cargo.
With this feat, Paradip port now stands second in the country after Kandla port in handling cargo. However, the port located in Odisha is on the top position in the country in handling iron ore and coal.
"Our performance in terms of handling cargo is getting better and better in every financial year. We have a net profit of Rs 740 crore in the last financial year. This is a great achievement for us. Hopefully, Paradip will emerge as the top port in the country by 2025," said Vinit Kumar, Chairman of the port.
"I would like to congratulate all the employees, stakeholders of the port for this achievement," he added.
It is worth mentioning that the port has handled 93.608 million metric tonnes of cargo during April and January of 2020-21 financial year compared to 93.387 million metric tonnes during the same period last year, posting a growth of 0.24 per cent.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)