No proposal to convert major ports into corporate cos: Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari also said that government-owned ports have shown better performance compared to the private ones

There is no proposal to convert major ports into corporate companies, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, emphasising that government ports have been showing better performance than the private ones.

He told the Lok Sabha that the government plans to replace the Major Port Trusts Act to modernise and ensure more operational freedom for the ports.

"There is no proposal to convert the major ports into corporate companies," Gadkari said during Question Hour.

He said that government-owned ports have shown better performance compared to the private ones.

"A proposal to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, is under consideration of the government with a view to modernise the institutional structure of major ports and secure greater operational freedom for the ports in tune with present day requirements," the minister said.

He said that according to the proposal under consideration, the interests of labour has been taken care of by "providing for a labour nominee in the board of each port authority".

Gadkari said that modernisation of ports is a continuous process through construction and mechanisation of berths and expansion of port capacity, among others.

"In the last three financial years, the Shipping Ministry has awarded 86 projects entailing an investment of Rs 46,588.17 crore, involving capacity addition of 534.90 million tonnes," he said.

Responding to supplementary questions, Gadkari said that efforts would be made to develop the Mumbai port and make it a world class one.