Shipping ministry to invest Rs14,225 cr on various port projects
27 Jan 2016
The ministry of shipping is planning an expansion of major ports in India by creating additional capacities through development and construction of new berths / terminals, revamping existing berths and terminals and other modernisation projects, involving a total investment of Rs14,225 crore.
The focus is on improving the existing port infrastructure, modernisation of existing facilities and increasing port capacity, according to a shipping ministry statement.
Currently, the level of mechanisation at various Indian ports is not on par compared with other global ports across, or even among Indian ports. For example, Kolkata Port is only 30 per cent mechanised whereas Kamarajar Port at Ennore has mechanisation level of up to 90 per cent. Operations in other ports are also mechanised to varying degrees.
As part of the modernisation process, the shipping ministry had hired a consultant for benchmarking the efficiency and productivity of major ports in India vis-a-vis international standards and suggest roadmap for improvement. A total of 101 recommendations were made by the consultant regarding improving the operations and efficiency of the major ports. These recommendations are under various stages of implementation.
It may be noted that the government had approved 26 investment projects with an investment of Rs10,543 crore and a total capacity of 155 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) in 2014-15.
During 2015-16, a total of 30 projects are to be awarded, which will involve an investment of Rs14,225 crore and capacity enhancement by 162 MTPA.
The ministry has also taken note of BK Chaturvedi Committee recommendations which stress on the need to increase draught of major ports to at least 14 meters, and in ports where it is technically feasible and economically efficient, the draught should be increased to 17 meters so that these ports can be developed into hub ports. The ministry has taken initiatives to increase draft at major ports.
All major ports except two, namely VOC Port and Kolkata Port, can handle 14 meter draft vessels. Dredging work is being carried out to increase the draft by 18 meters in order to cater to capesize vessels in two major ports namely Mormugao and Kamarajar. The investment in these dredging projects is estimated to be to the tune of Rs793 crore.