Summary:
Kolkata: The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is taking it up with the Shipping ministry and the nationalised banks to facilitate barge operators in availing of bank loans. The latter had raised the issue of being under financial stress as they have not been getting any financial support against their barges. The barge operators do not get bank loan easily so we have taken up the matter to come out with a solution to help the barge operators get loan at a reasonable rate," said KoPT chairman Vinit Kumar at an event organised by the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI). MCCI president Vishal Jhajharia in his welcome address raised the issue of barge operators not getting financial support against their barges. He maintained that the KoPT is setting up a reefer park in Kolkata Port with 150 multi-level reefer plugs that will help in storage of refrigerated cargos..