Haldia Dock posts net profit of Rs. 500mn in 2005 06

Kolkata: Independent of Haldia dock, the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) is set to post an estimated net profit of Rs 50 crore in 2005-06, for the first time in many years. In 2004-05, the KDS posted a net loss. Haldia and the KDS are the two separate dock systems of the Kolkata port.

Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), attributes this achievement of the KDS to jump in earnings from real estates and the railway operations.

'The earnings from the real estate is likely to exceed Rs 100 crore from a meagre Rs 18 crore previously,' he said.

The net profit to be earned by the KDS would also push up the total profit to be earned by the port (together with Haldia). Last year, the port posted an estimated total profit of Rs 250 crore, almost entirely on Haldia account as the KDS had posted a net loss.

This year, Haldia would continue to post a healthy profit while the KDS would record a net profit for the first time in many years.

High parcel load: Meanwhile, KDS reached a new high in handling highest parcel load at Saugor Island. On January 14, the vessel, Megas Alexandros, arrived at the Saugor anchorage with the highest parcel load of 37,400 tonnes of pulse from Canada, thus surpassing the previous record of 31,000 tonnes in December 2005.

'The consignment which is meant for northern and north-eastern parts of the country and being unloaded in full swing will be transported by barges from the Saugor anchorage to different sheds of the Kolkata Dock System,' he said.

Virtual jetty: Dr Chanda conceded that the virtual jetty at Saugor has so far remained a non-starter, mainly due to non-availability of right types of barges. The high capacity barges (2,000 tonnes and above), ideally suited for operation at the jetty, were not locally available.

'The high capacity barges available in Bangladesh and the west coast of India are willing to come and operate here but only on receipt of cargo guarantee which the trade is reluctant to give,' he said.

Also, these barges would be required to get clearance of the Mercantile Marine Department for operation during the monsoon months, he added.