The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) recently organised a competition ‘Idea Box Challenge’ among its employees to gain innovative ideas concerning increasing revenue, boosting tourism, cleanliness and green energy.
It was learnt that the top idea which won the contest was the idea to hire amphibious boats as pilot launches for marine operations. This would dramatically improve the pilot transit time and ease of transit of pilots from shore to ship and vice versa. The KoPT spokesperson informed that the ‘Idea Box Challenge’ was launched by the newly instituted strategic management team to gain innovative ideas from all employees on the front of process improvement, increasing revenue, boosting tourism, cleanliness and green energy. There were many good and implementable ideas ranging from increasing utilisation of land under dilapidated quarters, to develop rooftop cafes on riverfront warehouses, to improve the machinery of the Lock Gates at Netaji Subhash Dock (NSD).
It was on 4 September that the award ceremony for the winners of the Idea Box Challenge was organised by KoPT. The winners were felicitated by Gopal Krishna, IAS, secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India, in presence of Vinit Kumar, IRSEE, chairman, S. Balaji Arunkumar, IRTS, deputy chairman (K), G. Senthilvel and Dy. Chairman (H) and other senior officials of Kolkata Port Trust. The challenge received a strong response with more than 200 ideas submitted by participants. The top three ideas were declared winners with cash prizes upto Rs 50,000. Six consolation prizes were also given. The spokesperson highlighted that the Kolkata Port Trust is taking bold strategic steps in the direction of improving the organisation and increasing port revenues and productivity.
This initiative is yet another step in the direction to gain access to the knowledge and experience of officers and staff, and engage all employees in this process of change.