Question : UPGRADATION AND MODERNISATION OF PORTS

(a) whether the Government proposes to facilitate participation of private sector in the upgradation and modernisation of major ports; and

(b) if so, the details thereof including the ports proposed to be upgraded?

MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)

(a) to (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.106 FOR ANSWER ON 29TH NOVEMBER, 2006 RAISED BY SHRI JASUBHAI DHANABHAI BARAD REGARDING UPGRADATION AND MODERNISATION OF PORTS.

(a) to (b): The Government has already put in place, a scheme for private sector participation in the major ports. The comprehensive guidelines issued by the Government for private sector participation in major ports lay down, inter alia, the areas identified for such participation, the regulatory framework, modalities of participation, the bidding and evaluation process, the selection criteria and other general terms and conditions. The Government has also prescribed model documents for bidding, license agreement, etc. for such participation to guide the major ports in carving out project specific documents. The Government has so far approved 21 private sector projects in the major ports. Under the National Maritime Development Programme, a number of projects in all the 12 major ports have been identified for private sector participation. However, the process of identification and award of specific projects for upgradation and modernization is an on-going one, keeping in view the demands of maritime trade.