Krishnapatnam Port to capitalise on JICA plan to develop Chennai-Bangalore-Nellore corridor

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal is planning to capitalise on Japanese government’s plan to develop Chennai-Bangalore-Nellore industrial corridor.

Although Krishnapatnam Port currently has few Japanese companies accessing the port but director and chief executive officer of the Port Anil Yendluri hopes that they will cater to more investment from Japan proposal to develop the corridor is implemented.

The plan is extend a loop till Nellore and have access to four ports – Chennai, Ennore, Katpulli and Ennore besides two international airports, he says.

A senior representative of Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ichiguchi Tomohide confirmed that Japan is considering to develop Chennai-Bangalore-Nellore corridor. “The port is also part of our prospective plan,” said Tomohide.

He said currently the study is going on and refused to divulge any further details. As per the plan, Japan will fund three industrial hubs each in three southern states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Interestingly, Krishnapatnam Port, which started operations in September 2012 has already achieved a record breaking 101,542 TEUs (20 foot equivalent unit) of cargo in 18 months of operations.

The port has been wooing the cement manufacturers as well as farmers to export their products.

Cement manufacturers in Andhra Pradesh were earlier dependent on Chennai to export their product. “The transportation added to their cost. But now with Krishnapatnam Port coming up, cement manufacturers in Andhra Pradesh are able to cut cost and earn profits,” said Yendluri.

The port has exported 4,200 TEUs of cement cargo says Yendluri.

He said the port is also exporting maize and foodgrains. Meanwhile, timber import at the port is also seeing a new high. He said from June 2013, timber shipments commenced at Krishnapatnam port and since then timber logs have been regularly imported to the port. 

Yendluri said that the port will not affect businesses of Chennai, Ennore and Katpulli ports. He said Indian ports lack capacities and needs huge planning to cater to the future.