Port sources here said that the ministry was impressed with the CPT's achievement of over 31 million tonnes of traffic during the last fiscal when it ranked fourth among the 11 major ports. The sources pointed out that the traffic handled at Haldia Dock Complex alone exceeded the total output of six other major ports in the country.

Of the total traffic handled by the CPT during the last fiscal, Haldia's contribution was over 20.71 million tonnes, an increase of more than two million tonnes compared to the previous year. Calcutta dock system handled more than 10.31 million tonnes during the period which was about 1.2 million tonnes higher than the corresponding period of the previous year.

Sources said that the average annual growth rate of the traffic during the last three financial years for the two riverrine ports was about 4.93 per cent compared to the all India major ports average of 3.93 per cent -- one per cent higher than their ten other counterparts in the country.

Petroleum oil lubricants alone constituted nearly 16.5 million tonnes of traffic while coking coal contributed more than 3.28 million tonnes for the integrated steel plants. Handling of the container traffic by the two riverine ports was 176,000 teu's (twenty equivalent units). The port came first among all the major ports in handling coking coal and the number of ships called at the riverrine ports. In all, 2222 ships had left the CPT after cargo operation during the last fiscal.

The Port handled higher cargo from neighbouring Nepal during the last fiscal by carrying 865,000 tonnes, including 613,000 tonnes through HDC. They said they were hopeful of carrying larger quantum of cargo in the foreseeable future after the proposed conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge between raxaul in Bihar and Birgunj in Nepal by November.

Though the riverrine ports, Haldia and Calcutta, have higher targets to fulfil for the current fiscal, CPT ended the first quarter with a negative growth both in the absolute and percentage terms.

The Port handled nearly seven million tonnes during the first quarter showing a decline of about 300,000 tonnes compared to the corresponding period last year. HDC recorded growth both in terms of the absolute and percentage.

Sources pointed out that despite a fall in the cumulative traffic, Calcutta Port trust ranked fourth among all major ports in the country compared to its fifth position during the corresponding period during the last fiscal.

The cpt was hopeful of meeting the set traget of handling more than 36.3 million tonnes of cargo during the current fiscal and is gearing up its men and machineries to deal with the challenges which lay ahead in the foreseeable future with the expected opening of the trans-border trade.

Sources said they were hopeful about the implementation of the proposed investment of about Rs 100,000 crore within its hinterland, spread over several states, including those in the North-East, which would go a long way in increasing traffic through the riverrine ports.