Increasing The Port Capacity

The Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan informed the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to a question that the Government has identified 23 projects for award during 2011-12 to increase the capacity of major ports by 236.63 MTPA (Million Tons Per Annum) with an estimated investment of Rs. 16743.92 crores under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The existing port capacity of Major Ports as on 31.3.2011 is 670.13 Million Tonnes (MT).

The Minister further stated that the Government of India has given top priority to the modernization of ports through various expansion/upgradation projects for berths, construction of new berths/terminals, installation of new and modern equipment, upgradation/replacement through higher capacity of cargo handling equipments, mechanization of cargo handling operations, deepening of channels/berths etc. along with schemes for quicker evacuation of cargo through road and rail connectivity. Under National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP), 276 projects have been identified for mechanization and 69 have been completed.

MG/AS – PQ3 – usq 1191