13 port projects awarded in Apr-Nov, 14 more PPPs on cards

The shipping ministry awarded projects of 80 million tonnes (mt) capacity during April-November, more than 70 per cent of the 114 mt awarded last year at an investment of Rs 5, 515 crore. A total of 13 projects, including five public-private partnerships, have been awarded this year so far, of which five are public-private partnerships (PPP). The total private investment expected from these is Rs 2,514 crore. The capacity of the 12 major ports is 745 mt a year.

For 2013-14, the Union government plans to award 14 more PPP projects to add 156 mt at an estimated cost of Rs 9,177 crore and six non-PPP projects to bring an investment of Rs 800 crore. The biggest project awarded so far is the installation of mechanised iron-ore handling facility and the modernisation of an ore-handling complex at the Visakhapatnam Port. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 940 crore, with a capacity of 23.7 mt.

Last year, the government awarded 14 PPP port projects, with a capacity of 80 mt a year.

A ministry official said, "We have taken a lot of steps to speed up processes. More powers have been given to the shipping ministry. We have expedited the security clearances that were causing delay in the award of the projects."

Several projects awarded this year are a spillover from last year's targets. Among the projects that the ministry plans to award, the Chennai mega-containter terminal, which alone will bring an investment of Rs 3,800 crore and capacity of 4 million twenty-ft equivalent (TEUs), is not included. The Chennai port trust has commissioned a new study on the project, before it is put up for re-bidding.

SAILING SMOOTH

* 13 projects awarded during April-November 2013, out of which 5 are PPP projects.

* The total capacity of the projects is 80 mt at an investment of Rs 3,831 crore

* Last year, 26 projects were awarded with a total capacity of 114 mt

* The current capacity of 12 major ports is 745 mt