Capital dredging work starts in Paradip port

Kolkata: The much-awaited capital dredging for deepening the Paradip port’s channels has finally started.

The Dredging Corporation of India’s dredger CSD Aquarius was formally pressed into operation in the presence of the Paradip Port Trust’s Chairman, Mr K. Raghuramaiah, DCI’s Operation & Technical Director, Commodore S. Ratnam, and Project Manager, Mr N. Rao, among others.

The scope of the work, estimated to cost Rs 253.36 crore, includes 15 million cubic metres of dredging – comprising 11.3 metres in outer channel and another 3.7 cubic metres inside the dock, including turning basin.

On completion, the depth of the entrance channel will be increased from the present 12.8 metres to 17.1 metres and, as a result, the port will be able to handle Capesize vessels (125,000 dwt) capacity. Initially, the work will be done by CSD Aquarius, which is a cutter-suction dredger, to be replaced by higher capacity dredgers as and when the requirement will arise.

The work is supposed to be completed within 52 weeks from the day the work order was issued. The work order was issued in January, and accordingly should be over by January next year.

However, DCI, for its own reasons, could start the work only now. It, therefore, remains to be seen if the work could be executed within the stipulated time.

Paradip port’s present capital dredging work has been delayed, first by cost escalation and then by the non-availability of dredgers. The original cost estimate of Rs 154 crore jumped by nearly Rs 100 crore for which the Government approval had to be obtained. It took time.

Next, PPT issued the work order to DCI in January soon after the receipt of the Government approval, but DCI could not start the work immediately as it did not have required dredgers readily available.