Maharashtra gets windfall investments for 'port-led projects'

The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) on Friday signed a series of agreements with various companies to develop port-led projects during the ongoing three-day Maritime India Summit, officials said.

These include development of a jetty at Mankhurd in north-east Mumbai by the Yogayatan Group, a floatel by WB International for Rs.7,400 crore in phases, a separate captive jetty at Revdanda (Raigad) by Indo-Energy International for a thermal power project and also by JSW Infrastructure for its steel project, worth Rs.1,640 crore.

Others include a roll-on-roll-off (RORO) service, a LNG terminal and a PVC plant to come up at Dighi Port in Ratnagiri at a cost of Rs.1,200 crore.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust signed a pact with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for launching an amphibian bus service for Mumbai which would be procured by JNPT and operated by MTDC.

Among 25 major MoUs worth several crores signed by JNPT, other major ones include a Rs.135 crore food and steel processing unit by Roopam Group at Jalna, a Rs.100 crore Free Trade Warehousing Zone by LMJ Logistics, a Rs.200 crore Ihini Industrial and Logistics Park, Rs.250 crore by JWR Logistics, Rs.500 crore by Arshiya Ltd, Rs.759 crore by Monopoly Innovations for a biodiesel project and an edible oil and a Rs.475 crore biodiesel project by Emami Agrotech Ltd.

"Maharashtra has unveiled a new port policy with a 360 degree approach that covers all facets of maritime business and the basis is 'ease of doing business'. Port-led development has huge potential but remained untapped," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who was present on the occasion.

He said the proposed super-expressway which will connect Nagpur with JNPT, traversing through 14 districts, would seamlessly connect the region and change the state of the economy as the entire stretch is planned to developed as an economic zone.

Fadnavis said the state has identified several locations where greenfield ports can be constructed and investors can stake claim with their innovative concepts for such projects.