These ports will be part of a petrochemical anchor hub, as the state is planning to develop a chemical zone in the Konkan with which they will be integrated.
In what will spur development of the Konkan and boost the country's share in international trade, including that of petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals, the state government is considering the development of two Greenfield ports in the region.
These ports will be part of a petrochemical anchor hub, as the state is planning to develop a chemical zone in the Konkan with which they will be integrated.
"We have floated a 'request for proposal' for identifying new port sites. We are looking at developing two new sites south of Ratnagiri and are trying to integrate and develop these ports with the petrochemical facility proposed to come up in the hinterlands," Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) chief executive officer Asheesh Sharma told dna.
"We are planning to develop two ports between Ratnagiri and Goa; they will have feasibility and buoyancy due to the exports of chemicals."
The state will also seek that the area be notified as a Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) by the department of chemicals and petrochemicals of the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers. "These ports will be viable and exports will go up manifold," said Sharma.
The state is also planning a new policy for the construction of ports, shipyards and captive jetties on the coastline. It seeks to strike better linkages between ports and industries and improve road and rail connectivity to these port heads.
Sharma said the new policy would go "one step ahead" to boost the development of port heads with the state conducting a technical and feasibility study and finalising the terms of reference for environment clearance. After this, the port will be handed over to the private player for development.
Maharashtra has a 720km coastline — 114km in Mumbai, 127km in Thane, 122km in Raigad, 237km in Ratnagiri and 120km in Sindhudurg. The state also has two major ports, namely the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and 48 non-major ports. Currently, out of 48, only 12 handle cargo.
The MMB has entered into concession agreements for the development of six ports — at Rewas-Aware, Dighi, Jaigad (Dhamankhol), Vijaydurg, Jaigad (Lavgan) and Redi. The MMB has inked an agreement with the JNPT for the development of the Vadhwan port in Dahanu and a consultant has been appointed for a techno-feasibility study.
Sharma added that work on two sites in the region, which had been identified for ports (Vijaydurg and Redi), had not progressed much, largely due to the draft notification declaring ecologically sensitive area in the Western Ghats.
According to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2014-15, during 2014-15 up to December, MbPT and JNPT handled 461.66 lakh MT and 480.73 lakh MT cargo traffic, respectively.
The three commissioned non-major ports (Dhamankhol-Jaigad, Dighi and Lavgan-Jaigad) together handled 148.96 lakh MT cargo traffic and 96.43 lakh passenger traffic during 2014-15 up to October, it added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Greenfield")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}