To improve the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s main maritime gateway, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) plans to build six more lighter jetties along the banks of the Karnaphuli River by the end of this year.
This strategic strategy, according to CPA officials and businesses, will considerably increase the port’s capacity to handle cargo while reducing costs and saving importers valuable time. Additionally, expansion is expected to relieve the port city’s ongoing traffic congestion.
There are currently five lighter jetties serving the port, and another two will be added later this year in the Laldia Char of Patenga region, making a total of eleven jetties available. The business community asserts that even with this expansion, the port would not be able to keep up with the increasing volume of import requests.
The CPA remains optimistic, projecting considerable benefits upon the completion in the next five months. Unloading times are anticipated to decrease by a remarkable one-third, which in turn will lower transportation costs for products, delivering a much-needed boost to the efficiency of cargo operations at Chittagong Port.
Additionally, he stated that the administration signed contracts with six businesses to operate the jetties and built a yard near Laldia Char. These lessee firms are anticipated to sign contracts with the CPA shortly after completing the pontoon jetties’ construction. Within the next five to six months, the official expects the jetties to be operational.
Port authorities claim that CPA has set out particular blocks for every business and intends to execute 10-year leases with fixed yearly rent. The CPA anticipates that this scheme will bring in about Taka 40 crore a year.
The companies nominated to operate Blocks 1-6 include Omera Petroleum Limited, East Coast Trading Pvt Ltd, SS Trading, Shah Cement Industries, GPH Steel, and N Mohammed Trading Corporation.
These companies will pay annual rentals of Taka 6.5 crore, Taka 6.8 crore, Taka 6.73 crore, Taka 6.35 crore, Taka 7.13 crore, and Taka 7.13 crore for the yard space, respectively. Four of these companies have already completed their payments for the first year to the CPA.
The Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation states that lighter ships can carry anywhere from 1,200 to 5,000 tonnes of cargo. With six new jetties, up to 30,000 tonnes of goods might be simultaneously unloaded, based on a 5,000-ton capacity per ship.
