Partial operation of third port in Patuakhali begins in March

Talha Bin Habib | Published: October 18, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The partial operation of newly-built Paira Port in Patuakhali district will begin in March next year, officials said.
Earlier, the Paira Port Authority (PPA) had set a target to start partial operation in December this year, but it has been shifted to March 2015 as some required infrastructure development works of the port need some time to be completed before the deadline.
"We are going to launch partial operation of the port in March next year. It was scheduled to start in December 2014. Some development works that are yet to be completed forcing us to reschedule the timetable," PPA Member Captain Md Saidur Rahman told the FE.
He said they are taking necessary preparations for complete the works so that it could go for partial operation next year.
Earlier, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the PPA in May last for building the port. Â
As per the MoU, the CPA is now providing technical, financial and logistic supports to the PPA to help the country's third seaport to kick off its operation.
Besides, the CPA will provide training to the manpower of the PPA. It will also provide pilot and tug boats and other water vehicles to the PPA.
The CPA has provided interest-free loan worth Tk 496 million to PPA in November 2013 for land acquisition and development and building pontoon and other infrastructure facilities.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the Paira seaport at Ramnabad in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district on November 19, 2013.
The distance of Ramnabad channel is 31 kilometres (km) from the sea boundary, 316 km from Chittagong, 130 km from Mongla port and 340 km from the capital.
The Chittagong seaport has a capacity to handle an aggregate volume of 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers annually while the Mongla port has the capacity to handle 6.5 million tonnes of goods and 50,000 TEUs of containers every year.
The Paira port, first ever built in the country after independence, would open up a new dimension in import-export and goods transportation activities, according to the entrepreneurs.
The port is also expected to reduce pressure on the two other seaports -- Chittagong and Mongla -- and facilitate transit, ensuring economic and social development of the country's southern and central regions.
Mr Rahman said building necessary infrastructure is underway to bring in ships at the outer anchorage from March 2015.
Asked about the partial operation of the port he said initially the port will handle loading and unloading of imported cement clinkers. Besides it could be used as 'connecting route' for carrying fertiliser and food grains from different parts of the country.Â Â Â
He said they have started work for land acquisition and sent development project profile (DPP) to the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) for approval.
"We have started acquiring land for the port. We have sent development project profile (DPP) to the MoS for approval for starting its development works," he said.
About the possible time-table for full-fledged operation of the port, he said, "We will be able to build a number of jetties that will help the port to go into full operation by 2018".
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com