Gwadar scheduled for 2005
The new Gwadar port will commence operations, on schedule, in March 2005. The initial phase, costing $298m, will involve three operational deep-sea berths, with additional phases due to add up to nine more and is being built by Chinese engineers.
Overall, he notes, Indian ports are beginning to lack competitiveness compared to other regional players, which places the country’s overseas trade at risk.
However, the second phase, costing $600m, has yet to be timetabled, although will also involve the introduction of night navigation equipment.
According to Khan, Gwadar will have the deepest approach channel in Pakistan, varying from 12.5m deep at the outer anchorage to 11.8m in the inner port, although 4.5km in length.