TRANSPORT: NMPT mechanisation must for iron ore handling.

from BUSINESS LINE, October 05, 2009 A. J. Vinayak The share of iron ore in total cargo handled at the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has been increasing over the years. The time has come for NMPT to go in for mechanised handling of cargo.

In 2003-04, the port crossed the one million mark in iron ore handling. That year, 1.66 million tonnes of iron ore cargo were exported from the port. With the iron ore market witnessing a boom in 2004-05, the handling reached a level of 5.57 million tonnes. The last financial year saw total iron ore cargo handling at 8.12 million tonnes.

Though handling has increased manifold, the port is still dependent on a manual system of …