Government to award 17 port projects to private players

The government is planning to award 17 major port development projects to private players, under its ambitious National Maritime Development Programme.
       
"We would like to have more private participation in the maritime sector under the NMDP. As per the current plans, 17 projects will be awarded to the private sector," ministry of shipping, secretary, K Mohandas told PTI.
       
These 17 projects, once completed, will enhance the cargo handling capacity in the country by 183.5 million tonne per annum, Mohandas said.
       
NMDP envisages to increase the capacity of major ports across the country by 410 million tonne per annum (MTPA), which would be needing an investment of Rs62,000 crore, he said.
       
"We are ready to provide support to all the private sector players to set up ports and other maritime development projects," Mohandas said.
       
Designed as public-private-partnership project, NMDP was launched in 2005 to implement 276 projects by March 2012.
       
Under NMDP, the government also plans to set up a mega container terminal at Chennai, with an estimated cost of Rs3,686 crore, which would increase the Chennai port's capacity by 48 MTPA.
       
The project also calls for investing Rs1,136.63 crore in Kandla Port, to enhance berthing and allied facilities.