Port Connectivity projects informed to Maritime State Development Council

The shipping Ministry has told the Maritime State Development Council that it has taken up 98 Port connectivity projects worth rs 45,051 crores but did not identify the ports which will be benefited by this huge central investment.

13 projects completed; 85 in various states of implementation

The ministry said 13 of these projects have been completed while 85 of them are in various states of development and implementation.

Port-Rail connectivity projects worth rs 75,213 crores taken up jointly with the Indian railways

The ministry also said as many as 91 Port Rail connectivity projects worth rs 75,213 crores have been taken up jointly with the Indian railways , major ports and Maritime boards. 28 of them have been completed while 63 are in various stages of development and implementation. Here too the beneficiary Ports have not been identified in the official press release.

The only port connectivity project which has hogged the national headlines is the Western and Eastern dedicated freight corridor project which gets reviewed by both Prime Minister and Railway minister on a periodic basis. This corridor developed at a cost of several thousand crores will also help ports in Gujarat to get better connectivity to the North Indian hinterland. Goods loaded at these ports will reach national capital region within a few hours when the corridor is commissioned early next year.

For port connectivity projects the meeting concluded PPP mode not suitable

The meeting discussed the issue of funding the port connectivity project and came to conclusion at the public private partnership mode is not suited for this program and that a Special purpose vehicle should be set up along the central, state governments along with private players

Floating jetties have unique advantages in comparison with the convention jetties, like cost-effectiveness, speedy construction, minimal environmental impact, flexibility to expand and relocate, suitable for the locations with high tidal variation etc.

NTCPWC, IIT Madras to prepare DPR for more than 150 floating jetties across Indian Coastline

National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras was given the mandate to prepare the Detailed Project Report for developing more than 150 floating jetties across Indian Coastline and the work is in progress. It is proposed to utilize the floating jetties majorly for fishing harbours/fish landing centers, and seaplane operations.

The Ministry of Ports and shipping informed that the states/UTs are encouraged to explore using floating jetties/platforms for their project and requested states/UTs to identify more locations for developing floating jetties. Projects may be considered for funding from Sagarmala after the due approval of the proposal