Question : NATIONAL MARITIME AGENDA

(a) the aims, objectives and salient features of the National Maritime Agenda (NMA), 2010-20 alongwith the details of the amount earmarked/to be invested for the purpose during this period;

(b) the extent upto which the NMA is likely to address the problems of capacity addition in terms of coastal shipping, hassle free multi-modal transport, vessels, cargo handling/ movement and cargo trade;

(c) whether the Government plans to develop certain hub ports in the country under the scheme and if so, the details thereof alongwith the ports/places identified for the purpose;

(d) whether there is any proposal to invite private equity in terms of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under NMA; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF SHIPPING (SHRI G.K. VASAN)

(a): The National maritime Agenda (NMA) 2010-20 launched by the Ministry of Shipping is a perspective plan of the Ministry of Shipping for the decade 2010-20 and gives a vision and road map for comprehensive development of the Port and Shipping sector. The complete agenda is available in the Ministry of Shipping’s website www.shipping.nic.in.

(b): In the Agenda, there is thrust on formulation of Coastal Shipping policies especially in areas such as Promoting River-sea vessels, manning relaxation without compromise on the safety, financial incentives, infrastructural facilities, modal shift in cargo from rail and road, legal issues, declaration of inland vessels limits in different states, data-base and communication infrastructure, cabotage policy support, custom processes and procedures for the development of seamless movement of cargo and growth in Coastal Shipping.

(c): As per the National Maritime Agenda(NMA), Government of India plans to commission at least 4 hub-ports, two each on the east coast viz. Chennai Port and Visakhapatnam Port and the west coast viz. Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Cochin Port to receive the 13,500 + TEU (twenty-feet equivalent units) Containerships.

(d) & (e): Private investment under PPP has been envisaged during 2010-20 under NMA. Out of the total amount of Rs.1,09,449.41 crores investment envisaged for the Major Ports during the said period in the NMA, Rs.72,878.16 crores is earmarked from the private sector for the port development activities/projects like construction of berths, procurement of equipment, road rail connectivity and other related projects.