Mangaluru : New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is planning to set up water kiosks at 10 places in the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) administration limits.

Mangaluru :  The Mangalore City Corporation and the district administration will identify the locations for installation of the water kiosks, said NMPT Chairman M T Krishna Babu.

Speaking to the reporters he said, “Under the system, a central purification plant will be set up. Stainless steel containers will collect water from the plant to fill in the kiosks. Stainless steel glasses with storing capacity of 500 ml and 1,000 ml will be kept at the kiosks for the use of customers.

“A physically challenged person will be deployed at the kiosk to sell smart cards during the day to purchase water. Water will be charged at Re 1 a litre. Such a system is working in Warangal and Hyderabad,” said Krishna Babu.

The cruise lounge at the Port will be improved, said the chairman. “An architect has been engaged to improve the interiors. An aesthetic terminal, reflecting the culture, flora and fauna of the region, will be created,” he added.

“The toilets will be renovated at the lounge. State-of-the-art toilets will be laid at tourist spots like Kadri Temple, Kudroli Temple, Gomateshwara at Karkala and the Thousand Pillar Basadi at Moodbidri. These places are frequented by passengers of foreign cruise ships anchoring at the port. Washrooms like at the airport will be maintained in all such places by the Port itself,” said Krishna Babu.

He added that two more toilets will be constructed, following the instructions of the deputy commissioner.

The chairman said that the Port is committed to take up corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities worth Rs 4.89 crore in the current financial year. “The road to Panambur beach will be concreted at a cost of Rs 2.3 crore. Tenders will be floated soon. Streetlights will be installed from KIOCL Junction to IOCL, Thannirbavi, at a cost of Rs 40 lakh,” he added.

Krishna Babu said that the traffic throughput achieved during the first three quarter (April to December) was 31.91 MT against the achievement of 31.01 MT during the corresponding periods in 2017, thus registering a growth of 2.89%.

“The average traffic growth of ports in India is 3.77%. The traffic was hit following flood and closing of Ghat roads during monsoon. In 2017, port had achieved traffic of 42.05 MT and the target for this year is 44 MT. The Port generated a revenue of Rs 492.50 crore as against Rs 408.47 crore in the same period in 2017,” he said.

“The container traffic handled was 99,856 TEUs as against 81,503 TEUs in the corresponding period in 2017, registering a growth of 23%. Already, 14 cruise vessels had called at the port and they were expecting 32 in the season,” Krishna Babu explained.

He said the work on the construction of a breakwater as part of Kulai jetty will be taken up under Sagarmala project soon. Up to 50% of the fund will be given by Centre, 45% by NMP and 5% by the state government.

“The tender was floated and the bid will be finalised by end of this month. The Ministry of Shipping had released its share to the state government. Breakwater will be constructed and later the work on berthing structure will be taken up. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 196 crore,” he said.

NMPT Chairman M T Krishna Babu said that NMPT was declared the cleanest among the 12 major ports in the country and was presented the Swachhta Sarvekshan Award, instituted by Ministry of Fishing, for two years in a row.

Out of 1,000 points, NMPT wasz awarded 851.75 points while Vizag Port, placed second, got 751.44 points. NMPT was placed in the sixth position when Swachh Sarvekshan award was introduced in 2016.