GMB to add 50 MT capacity in FY 2013

Encouraged by the performance of its ports and investment commitments of about Rs 100,000 crore in the port and ship-building space, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is looking at big capacity expansion this fiscal to garner a larger share of the national cargo.

"We have signed MoUs worth Rs 100,000 crore in the ports and shipbuilding sector during the Vibrant Gujarat events which are going to be implemented soon. We are targeting 50 million tonnes per annum (MPTA) capacity addition during the current fiscal," GMB Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pankaj Kumar said. He said GMB is eyeing larger share of the national cargo. Ports under GMB accounted for about 73 per cent of the non-major ports traffic, and 28 per cent of total national cargo at 259 million tonnes (MT) in 2011-12, an increase of 12 per cent over the previous fiscal.

India has about 200 non-major ports under state governments, besides 12 centre-owned major ports.

Non-major ports during 2011-12 handled 354 MT, as per the recent traffic figures. They now account for about 39 per cent of the total national cargo. As far as ports under GMB are concerned, capacity expansion grew at a brisk pace, with 39 MTPA addition in 2011-12 to reach 323 MTPA.

The major ports on the other hand, have shown a worrying decline, with traffic actually decreasing by 1.7 per cent to reach 560 MT during 2011-12. Among the GMB ports, Sikka port topped the list in handling cargo followed by Mundra Port& SEZ (MPSEZ), Magdalla Port and Petronet LNG. Buoyed by this success, the GMB is targeting 50 MTPA capacity addition, Kumar said.