Vizag port users press for improvement in services

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 May 2009

Visakhapatnam, May 28 The small users of Visakhapatnam port need a better deal and their problems such as the lack of storage space, safety of the cargo and higher handling charges need to be addressed by the port authorities on a priority basis. The plea was made at the inauguration of the Visakhapatnam Port Users’ Association on Thursday by the President, Mr S.V. Choudary. He said co-ordinated efforts by the port authorities, handling agents and the users were required for the improvement of port services, as it was facing competition from several private ports in the neighbourhood.
He said the association would also invite representatives from the other ports in the vicinity to tackle common problems and issues. It would act as a bridge between port authorities and the users.
The Chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Mr Ajeya Kallam, who inaugurated the association, said it was a fact the problems of the small users may not get proper representation at the higher levels, even though there were many organisations representing port users.
He promised the association co-operation and spoke about the efforts being made to improve the infrastructure at the Visakhapatnam port to offer better services.
The Vizag Stevedores’ Association President, Mr K. Krishna Kumar, said there was a gap separating the international ports and the Indian ports in the matter of performance on certain parameters such as turnaround time. Even the new private Indian ports were way ahead of the public sector ports and, therefore, a lot needed to be done to improve infrastructure at the public sector ports. Port users’ associations would be of great help in the endeavour, he added.
The former Deputy Chairman of the Visakhapatnam port, Mr V. Rokkam, and others spoke about the need to improve efficiency and to cut down on handling charges.

Source: The Hindu Business Line