CHITTAGONG: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan inaugurated the long-awaited New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port in the district on Saturday afternoon.

The terminal came to operation after eight years of the beginning of its construction in 2007.

The inaugural ceremony was held at 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 Power Tec Limited managing director Tarafder Ruhul Amin, leaders of port users and businesspeople also attended the program.

Of the five berths of the terminal, one has been reserved for the port authority.

However, Chittagong Port Authority appointed private operator to run rest of four berths of the terminal.

People concerned said though the terminal had been constructed eight years ago, unfortunately it could not be operated. After the terminal went into full-fledged operation, capability of the port will be double.

The NCT has been constructed at a cost of about Tk 468.90-crore.

Later, backyard facilities to storage containers in the two berths were constructed at a cost of around Tk 98-lakh.  

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

BDST: 1910 HRS, OCT 17, 2015
SR/SMS


** NCT goes into operation in afternoon