Govt Aiming To Attract $7.6b For 21 Projects

The government has targeted to attract $7.6 billion from the private sector for 21 major ports development projects in the country, official sources said.

Of this, 50 per cent or $ 3.8 billion is for the five southern ports of New Mangalore, Tuticorin, Madras, Visakhapatnam and Cochin. About $1.28 billion will be required for Tuticorin, including $1.2 billion to construct the new outer harbour.

These projects have been envisaged for 10 of the 11 major ports. Jawaharlal Nehru Port, near Mumbai, has been targeted to secure $905 million, including a marine chemical terminal at an estimated cost of $ 535 million and a berth terminal at a cost of $335 million. Three projects have been identified for Mormugao port, estimated to cost about $970 million, with $700 million for construction of outer harbour, $75 million for construction of master plan berths and $195 million for construction of berths.

A dry dock ship repair facilities at a cost of $ 470 million is among the three projects proposed for Paradip port. The other two are for upgradation of facilities for container berth and a fertilizer captive handling system.

An investment of $900 million has been envisaged for Cochin, of which $800 million will be for construction of modern container terminal and the remaining for construction of a liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas terminal at Puthuvypeen.

Two projects of about $870 million have been envisioned for Visakhapatnam port, of which $800 million is for construction of outer to the harbour and the rest for construction of a multipurpose and general cargo berths.