For sometime, Kolkata port (including Haldia dock), whose operation would often be hit by the poor navigability of the Hooghly river-making movement of large vessels with large average parcel load almost impossible along the river-has been planning to encourage large-scale barge movement of traffic to and from the port. A beginning has already been made. Last fiscal, Steel Authority of India Ltd brought coking coal to Haldia by barges totalling about 20,000 tonnes. The consignments were first unloaded from big ships at Visakhapatnam port for onward movement by barges. The throughput, it is hoped, will rise in the current fiscal. While Inland Waterways Authority of India is supposed to construct two barge jetties, one each at Kolkata Dock System and Haldia dock, the port authorities on their part are planning several other measures. Thus the owners of big-size barges have been sounded if they should be interested in undertaking "topping up" operations for bulk cargoes (iron ore exports, coking coal imports) at the Sagar Island, which being closer to the sea provides deeper draft suitable for large vessels.
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