Govt examining proposals for ports in AP, Kerala, K'taka, Guj

NEW DELHI: The government today said it is examining proposals from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat for setting up major ports in these states and has also prepared plans of attracting Rs 2.76 lakh crore investment for augmenting existing port capacity by 2020.

"We have received three proposals from Andhra Pradesh and one each from Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat for establishing major ports. Teams have been sent to examine the sites and a committee will soon come up with its report," Shipping Secretary K Mohandas told reporters while announcing the India Maritime Week.

Under its Maritime Agenda, unveiled in 2011, the Ministry has proposed setting up of major ports in the East and West coasts and all maritime states were asked to select sites for the same.

Mohandas said ports contributed significantly to the country's growth and the Ministry has made plans that envisages Rs 2.76 lakh crore investment in ports, a major chunk of which is expected from the private sector.

On award of projects under public-private-partnerships (PPP), Mohandas said of the "23 projects in basket this year under the mode, the Ministry is hopeful of awarding about 80 per cent by the fiscal-end."

The agreement for project at JNPT port is likely to be signed soon, while bid for developing terminal at Kandla has been opened and the Ministry is hopeful to award Chennai project this fiscal.

India has 12 major ports along its 7,517 kms of coastline, six each on the west and east coasts. Around 200 non-major ports transport about 90 per cent by volume and 70 per cent by value India's international trade.

The Ministry plans to augment the capacities in all ports to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2016-17 and more than 3 billion tonnes by 2020.

Traffic handled at major ports during 2010-11 was 570.03 million tonnes and at non-major ports it was 314.78 million tonnes.

India Maritime Week which kicked off today is designed to showcase India as a global maritime hub and to assist efforts in evolving a cohesive approach in making India a top maritime nation.