Govt policy to boost ports' capacity: Vasan

The Centre is in the middle of formulating a comprehensive policy for ports’ capacity expansion through public-private partnership (PPP). Shipping Minister G K Vasan today said the proposed policy would help raise the capacity of ports to 1.25 billion tonnes by the end of the 11th Plan.

Vasan, on a two-day visit to review the functioning of Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port here, told reporters the capacity of all major ports had increased to 574.77 million tonnes in 2008-09.

“We propose to raise the capacity of the major ports to over 825 million tonnes by 2011-12. With additional capacity of 500 million tonnes at minor ports, the total capacity of all ports in the country is projected to reach 1.25 billion tonnes. The PPP policy would boost capacity expansion,” he said.

He added there was timely implementation of the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP). It was aimed at a comprehensive development of ports, shipping and inland water transport.

“Total investment envisaged under NMDP is over Rs 1 lakh crore. Of this, Rs 55,804 crore is for the port sector and Rs 44,535 crore for shipping and inland waterways. In ports, 276 projects have been identified for implementation at an envisaged investment of Rs 55,804 crore. Till date, 50 projects have been completed under this programme at a cost of Rs 5,717.28 crore, while 69 are at various stages of implementation, at an investment of Rs 16,306.45 crore,” the minister added.