NMPT issues Rs 24-cr order for road development

Mangalore: The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has given importance for the development of road infrastructure both inside and outside the port premises.

In this regard, NMPT has issued work order to the tune of Rs 24 crore for concreting and asphalting of roads inside the port premises, according to Mr P. Tamilvanan, NMPT Chairman.

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a meeting—which was convened by the Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister, Mr B. Nagaraja Shetty, to review the situation arising out of the grounding of a China-bound cargo vessel, m.v. Cheng Le Men, off Mangalore coast—he said the port has given importance for the development of roads both inside the port and along the port compound wall.

“Already work order has been given for development of road inside the port,” he said. To a query on the movement of lorries carrying iron ore cargo and its impact on the roads in the area, he said the port authorities have readied two roads along the port compound wall after foreseeing the traffic movement at the port. This will reduce the burden on national highway adjoining the port premises, he said.

Parking Lot

While some roads along the port compound wall are being concreted, some others are being asphalted, he said. To provide adequate parking facility for lorries, a parking lot has been developed outside the port premises, he said.

Giving details about the traffic pattern of iron ore cargo, he said nearly 1,000 lorries come to the port every day. The movement of lorries on the roads has come down after the commissioning of Hassan-Mangalore Railway line for goods traffic, he said.

The port is contributing 10 per cent to the project cost of the four lane conversion of national highway between B.C. Road and Surathkal, he said. The national highway widening work has been taken up at a project cost of Rs 196 crore.

Earlier in the meeting, the Minister wanted to know the status on the removal of oil from the sunken ship m.v. Den Den. Mr Tamilvanan said the salvage experts who inspected the ship have decided to remove oil from the ship after the rainy season. When Mr Shetty asked whether it was safe to re-float the ship or scrap it after the removal of oil from it, he said the salvage team would take a decision on it after conducting a survey in this matter. It may be noted here that m.v. Den Den sank off Mangalore coast on June 23.