Shipping Ministry in process of awarding 25 projects worth Rs 11,000 crore

09 Jan 2013 Evaluate

The shipping Ministry, in a move to fast-track port development, is in a process of awarding as many as 25 projects worth Rs 11,000 crore by the end of current fiscal. Construction of a mega container terminal in Chennai and a second dock at the Haldia port are among the projects that will be awarded.

The decision follows Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s instruction to the ministry a month ago that capacity expansion should be fast-tracked. “About 17 projects have already been awarded and rest will be awarded by March this year. Most of these projects are for capacity addition, deepening of channels and modernization,” said G.K.Vasan, Minister for Shipping. The 42 projects will increase cargo handling capacity by about 250 million tonnes a year (mtpa) at an investment of Rs 15,000 crore.

Recently, the government has delegated enhanced financial powers to the Ministry of Shipping for approval of public-private projects. Henceforth, only projects costing more than Rs 500 crore would require the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure. According to the Maritime Agenda, proposed by the Shipping Ministry, it is planned that the capacity will be raised to 3,200 mtpa by 2020. 

Further, Vasan said his Ministry has approved establishment of two new ports, one on the Sagar island of West Bengal and another in Andhra Pradesh and has said that ministry has shelved the Port Regulatory Bill due to opposition from various state governments and minor Ports. Measures has also been taken to reduce the time taken for the projects and has streamlined security clearance procedures and is constantly monitoring various projects.

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