Govt plans to take gross Indian tonnage in Shipping to 43 MT

Government plans to take gross tonnage under the Indian flag to 43 million tonnes (MT) in the next five years from the present 10.31 MT, Parliament was informed today.

"The Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 has set an ambitious target of achieving 43 million gross owned and controlled tonnage under Indian flag by the year 2020 so as to increase India's share in total freight," Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The Indian tonnage stood at 10.31 MT as on November 30.

Radhakrishnan also said that the private sector has invested Rs 33,336.56 crore in major port projects awarded on PPP basis during the last five years.

"The investment from plan funds during the same period is Rs 19,712.81 crore," he added.

Last week, Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had said that the government has accorded highest priority to the Shipping sector and was going to increase the capacity of major ports.

India has 12 major ports -- Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) which handle approximately 61% of the country's total cargo traffic.