Mumbai, Jan 8 (IANS) The government has stepped up efforts to create additional port capacity in the country and will soon start new projects to boost trade and commerce, union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan said Tuesday.
The government planned 42 new projects, 29 under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for 2012-13, Vasan said.
"As many as 17 projects have already been awarded till Dec 31 last year (2012) and the rest would be awarded by the end of March 2013. Most of these projects are for capacity addition, deepening of channels and modernisation," Vasan said after the conclusion of 14th Maritime State Development Council Meeting here.
The total capacity addition would be 245 million tonnes.
Vasan said the capacity of Indian ports - both major and minor - has now crossed 1,200 million tonnes per annum and the vision document drawn by his ministry envisages three fold capacity increase by 2020.
He added that new ports will have to be set up across the Indian coastline and that he has already written to the chief ministers of all the maritime states to explore possibilities of setting up new ports.
Vasan also announced that establishment of two new ports - one on the Sagar island of West Bengal and another in Andhra Pradesh - have already been approved.
Vasan announced that a new central scheme is being introduced to provide financial assistance to maritime states during the 12th Five Year Plan.
"The new scheme, among other things, would provide support for capital dredging in state owned non-major ports, build capacity of state maritime boards to combat oil spills and install vessel traffic management system (VTMS) and other navigational aids in non-major ports," he said.
Addressing the challenge of port connectivity, Vasan said that an inter-ministerial group under the chairmanship of secretary, Shipping has been formed with representatives of Railways, National Highway Authority of India and Inland Waterways Authority of India to identify gaps in port connectivity and take up appropriate projects.
"The Railways has come out with the policy of privatisation of port connectivity projects. This is a good development and all ports must make best use of this policy change. Non-major ports account for nearly 40 per cent of the port capacity," he said.
Vasan also announced that the government has decided not to pursue the Port Regulatory Bill, in view of reservations expressed by some states.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Shipping Milind Deora announced that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) would soon give its no-objection certificate (NoC) for the construction of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link connecting the Mumbai with Navi Mumbai.
The JNPT, earlier had some reservations about the alignment of the trans-harbour bridge, in view of its future port expansion plans.
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