Question : PORT FACILITIES IN COASTAL STATES



(a) whether the Government has undertaken any study to determine demand and supply of ports facilities in coastal States of the country; and

(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State-wise?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF SHIPPING(SHRI G.K.VASAN)

(a) & (b): A study was undertaken by M/s Tata Consultancy Services in Dec, 2003, on behalf of the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, and they had estimated that coastal traffic would increase from 116 million tonnes in 2002-03 to 220 million tonnes by the end of the 11th Plan period. Being cognisant of the urgent need to develop non-major ports to sustained the growth of coastal shipping, Government proposed a scheme under the National Maritime Development Programme viz. Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which initially one non-major port in each Maritime State had been proposed for development, namely, Gopalpur (Orissa), Azhikkal (Kerala), Malpe (Karnataka), Dharamtar (Maharashtra), Magdalla (Gujarat), Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) and Gangavaram (Andhra Pradesh). The budgetary support proposed for the Scheme in 11th Five Year Plan was Rs.500 crore. But no fund was provided for the said Scheme and as such, it could not be implemented.