Rs 75 cr approved for coastal shipping

The Shipping Ministry sanctioned Rs 25 crore for infrastructure development at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Rs 50 crore for Karnataka's Karwar Port, it was announced on Thursday.

The project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port is estimated to cost Rs 170.20 crore and involves construction of a coastal berth and port craft jetty apart from reclamation and capital dredging in coastal berth, a ministry statement said. The project would be completed by March 2019.

"The project at Karwar Port in Karnataka involves extension of the existing southern breakwater by 145 metres and construction of a new north breakwater of 1,160 metres," it added.

"The estimated cost of the project is Rs 215 crore and it is expected to be complete in three years."

The Ministry has sanctioned the funds as grants-in-aid as part of the Coastal Berth Scheme under its flagship Sagarmala programme.

The Coastal Berth Scheme aims to provide financial support to ports for creation of infrastructure for movement of cargo and passenger by sea or national waterways.

"The expansion at both the ports will result in increased shipping activity, employment generation and overall improvement in the socio-economic condition in the hinterland," the statement said.

--IANS

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