CHITTAGONG. Sept 8: Chit tagong Port authority plain to b uild up five more container yards in a bid to handle addi tional 2500 containers regularly.

According to port official sources, the construction of these yards is expected to be completed in one year time. They will provid more handling space to tackle the Increased container cargo at this major port of the country.

Port officials said the space-shortage in the existing yards forced the autliority to plan for building of new container yards.

The existing yards at Chittagong port can somehow provide space for handling of about 8000 containers as against regular handling of around 10.500 containers, they said.

As a result. Chittagong Port faces a regular congestion In its jetty-yards which has become a common phenomenon, port sources said.

The new contalher yards are planned to be built up at the near side of jetty no 17. jetty no 2. near jetty no 14 and shed no 8. heavy lift yard and at JR yard respectively, official

sources informed.

Besides. Chittagong Port a u ■ hority is now set for under taking repairing work of the existing yards which mostly developed pot-holes and became ditchy causing immense troubles to handling opera tlons.

Port officials expect to complete the repairing work in six months time.

Sources said due to diUy dallying tactics by a section of concerned port officials, the damaged Jetty-yards could not be repaired timely though Chittagong port continues to contribute huge revenue to the

nat ional exc hequer even' year.

According to port reports, container cargo records an increase of 20 per cent per year.

Except the MPB yards, stacking of containers at other Jetty-yards has been made almost in a haphazard manner due to space problem, port sources said.

Consequently, on various occasions accidents occured Inside Jetty-yards during the movement of container handling equipment-particularly veimets. claiming the lives of some dock labourers, port sources said.