Significant progress had been achieved in the construction of the two new berths, Mohapatra told newsmen on Sunday.

Mohapatra said that despite slump in the export of iron ore, the port had achieved a net surplus of Rs 49 crore during 1998-99 against Rs 50 crore registered the previous year.

The chairman said that 1998-99 remained a year of overall success for the Port Trust in spite of a marginal fall in traffic. A total traffic of 13.11 million tonnes was handled during the year against a target of 13.35 million tonnes and the previous year's 13.30 million tonnes.

The marginal fall of around one per cent was mainly due to fall in export of iron ore and general recession, he said. The Port's present capacityof 11.50 million tonnes would be tripled to 40 million tonnes by end of 2000 when all the ongoing projects would be completed, Mohapatra said.

The year also witnessed successful implementation of a number of development and expansion plans with the Port Trust spending Rs 199.70 crore on this head against the plan outlay of Rs 120 crore.