Question : UPGRADATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF PORTS



(a) whether the Government has prepared any plan to upgrade the infrastructure of ports in the country as per international standards; and

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the time by which it is likely to be upgraded?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF SHIPPING (SHRI G.K. VASAN)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): With the objective to upgrade and modernize port infrastructure in India to enable it to benchmark its performance against global standards, a National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) has been formulated by the Ministry of Shipping. Under the programme, specific projects have been identified to be taken up for implementation upto 2011-12. In the Major Ports, 276 projects covering the entire gamut of activities, namely, construction/upgradation of berths, deepening of channels, rail-road connectivity projects, equipment upgradation/ modernization schemes and other related schemes for creation of back-up facilities have been identified for inclusion in the programme.