Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 29: New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) chairman Venkata Ramana Akkaraju on Tuesday December 29 said that the NMPT hopes to handle 77 million metric tons cargo in the year 2030, if the project of the four-lane tunnel on Shiradi Ghat at cost of Rs 10,000 crore connecting cities Mangaluru-Bengaluru is materialised.

Speaking during a press meet at NMPT office, Venkata Ramana said, "The 23.6-kilometre tunnel on Shiradi Ghat will ease the flow of traffic from Bengaluru to Mangaluru.

"Transportation of cargo to NMPT during monsoon is really challenging as roads deteriorate following heavy rain. And this reduced flow of cargo to the port. The project will also ensure that the environment and wild animals are not affected.

"The NMPT is targeting a cargo traffic of 45 million metric tons in the year 2025. At present, though the capacity of cargo traffic of NMPT is 68 metric tons, NMPT could not meet the target due to fragile conditions of roads connecting the port. The upcoming projects will be a boon to NMPT,” he said.

He also said that projects like four-laning of the 278-kilometre road from Goa border to Kerala border at cost of Rs 3,443 crore, the work of Samapaje Ghat at cost of Rs 58.8 crore, and the work of Charmadi Ghat at a cost of Rs 19.5 crore will help to increase the cargo export from NMPT.

“NMPT's cargo handling in December 2019 was 27.5 million metric tons and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in December 2020 cargo handling is about 25.53 million metric tons. NMPT stands in fourth place with an operational ratio of 42.9% in the country,” he said.

He also thanked MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and the union ministers for their support in sanctioning the project.

Karnataka chapter Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) chairman Prakash Kalbhavi said, “The construction of the tunnel on Shiradi Ghat was also a concept of former minister Oscar Fernandes. The project will be a great boon for economic activities."

Stressing on the railway line alignment which can save time, Prakash said that if the government emphasises on the railway line alignment adjacent to the tunnel, it will also increase speed of railway consignments’ transportation.

He also said, “As of now, goods and logistics from Hassan, Madikeri and other regions used to go Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Bengaluru. From there it would be transported to Chennai Port which is also economically not viable. The upcoming tunnel will ease the container movements to Mangaluru port.”