The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is working to make it a paperless institution to cope with the modern world, its Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan has said.

He made the remarks while addressing a view exchange meeting with the journalists at Munshi Fazlur Rahman Auditorium in the port city on Tuesday.

The CPA organised the view exchange marking the 136th founding anniversary of the port.

“We are developing 50 software modules to automate the work of different departments of the port,” the chairman said.

The project titled “Re-engineering of one-stop service centre: A sustainable solution to combat pandemic situation at CPA” is being implemented as the C&F agents can pay the charge of the port through the system, said the chairman.

The C&F agents will also be able to submit delivery orders, verify bills, bill preparation and payment, port release and cart ticker issues using the software, he added.

“The Chattogram port has increased the capacity to contain 55,000 TEUs containers at 5.90 lakh square metres yards. Once the Bay Terminal, Matarbari Port Development and Patenga Terminal are opened, it’ll help enhance the capacity of the port,” he said.

“Chattogram district administration conveyed 67 acres of land to the Chattogram Port in October 2021 for the Bay Terminal project. We requested the Land Ministry through the Shipping Ministry to allocate 803 acres of land with a nominal price for the Bay Terminal project,” he added.

“Bay Terminal channels have no bends and adequate navigability. Therefore, it will be possible to berth ships of draft of 10-12 meters there,” he said.

The initial cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 21,000 crores, he informed.

“In 2022, CPA handled 31.42 lakh TEUs containers as well a total of 4361 ships,” he said.