Gadkari urges NMPT, MRPL to fast-track LNG project

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has asked New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) to fast-track the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and commission it by June 2017.
The minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, who reviewed the project's progress during his brief visit to the port on December 15, said speedy completion of LNG terminal would help fertiliser plants and reduce the cost of urea and government subsidy on fertilisers.
The minister also directed the port to award the work for the mechanisation of coal handling facility by January, an NMPT release said.
He had discussions with officials on the status of the satellite port at Belikeri in Uttara Kannada district and asked NMPT authorities to negotiate with the Ministry of Railways and the state government to take forward the work on Ankola-Hubballi new railway line.

NMPT Chairman P C Parida explained to the minister the steps taken by the port to expedite various projects of national importance.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum submitted to the minister, the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urged the ministry to set up national highways in and around Mangaluru for the benefit of trade and industry as well as the public.
KCCI President Rammohan Pai Maroor said in the memorandum that though Mangaluru has an export promotion industrial park (EPIP) at Ganjimutt on the Mangaluru-Sholapur National Highway, it had poor connectivity.