Budget 2017: Ports to get Rs 91,000-cr push

Budget may give shipping ministry Rs 2,500 crore to upgrade and develop ports

In a major push to the maritime sector, the Centre has planned port-modernisation projects worth Rs 91,000 crore, leading to the creation of a 3-billion-tonne port handling capacity by 2025.

To part-fund its various schemes, the shipping ministry is likely to get Rs 2,500-crore allocation in the Budget, slated to be presented on February 1. 

India’s port handling capacity in 2015-16 stood at 1,673 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Official estimates expect the traffic at the major ports to touch 2,500 MTPA by 2025. Keeping in line with the need for a higher capacity to handle growing traffic at the