CHITTAGONG: After eight years of its construction in 2007, much talked about New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port is going to be operational on Saturday afternoon.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan is set to inaugurate the terminal officially around 3:30pm.

Port sources said the inaugural ceremony will be held at the berth-2 of the NCT, with Chittagong Port chairman Rear Admiral Nizamuddin in the chair.

Chittagong City mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, local lawmaker MA Latif, terminal operator Saif Powertech managing director Tarafder Ruhul Amin, leaders of port users and businessmen will also attend the program.

Of the five berths of the terminal, one has been reserved for the port authority. Chittagong Port Authority appointed private operator to run rest of four berths of the terminal.

People concerned said though the terminal has been constructed in eight years ago, unfortunately it could not be operated. After the terminal went into full-fledged operation, capability of the port will increase by two times.

The NCT has been constructed at a cost of about Tk468.90 crore. Later, backyard facilities to storage containers in the two berths were constructed at a cost of Tk 98 lakh.  

Alongside gearing up of the port activities, growth will also increase, they hoped.

BDST: 1140 HRS, OCT 17, 2015
RS/SMS


** NCT goes into operation from Saturday