38 port projects completed

Out of the 276 port projects planned under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP), 38 projects have been completed, according to data compiled by the Indian Ports Association (IPA). The project was launched in August 2005.

According to Exim News Service, the 38 projects have added 54.60 million tonnes of additional capacity to six Major Ports.

The government-backed port developmental projects have been able to attract players from the private sector.

Private developers have contributed Rs 2,942.52 crore out of the total estimated cost of Rs 3,989.15 crore for the 38 projects.

While work is in progress on 65 projects costing Rs 12,017.06 crore, 31 projects (Rs 8,247.46 crore) have been approved but not yet awarded to developers, 26 projects (Rs 9,426.83 crore) have been firmed up and are awaiting approval.

Another 93 projects (Rs 22,752.20 crore) are under the planning stage. All these projects are expected to be completed within five to seven years, while 23 projects (Rs 3,551.14 crore) have been held back.

According to the status report of the IPA, the steady progress of almost all projects under various stages of implementation indicates that the port sector programmes are moving ahead despite the current economic downturn.

Actually, 74 per cent of the cost of the completed projects has been borne by the private players.

Of the completed projects, Kandla Port tops the list with the completion of as many as nine projects involving an estimated cost of Rs 1,408.55 crore.

Three cargo berths and a state-of-the-art container terminal with back-up areas have been completed. It has been proposed to set up a marine terminal at Vadinar, and upgrade its marine, rail and road infrastructure.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port has completed four projects entailing an estimated Rs 1,127.30 crore. The projects include redevelopment of bulk terminal into box terminal, development of yard and procurement of rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGCs) and trailers.

Paradip Port has completed seven projects costing Rs 113.08 crore. The Haldia Dock Complex has completed five projects (Rs 185.86 crore), Tuticorin Port finished four (Rs 104.25 crore), Visakhapatnam Port with three projects (Rs 164.45 crore) and Cochin Port completing two projects at an estimated cost of Rs 767.58 crore.

Mumbai, Kolkata, New Mangalore and Mormugao Ports completed one project each at estimated costs of Rs 24.98 crore, Rs 14.50 crore, Rs 45.40 crore and Rs 33.20 crore, respectively.

For the current fiscal, the Shipping Ministry has targeted nine projects for execution out of the 26 that have been firmed up while waiting for approval.

A port consultant said that the cumbersome procedures for public-private partnership (PPP) mode projects were delaying quicker project implementation.

Source: Transportweekly