The Bengal government has evinced interest in picking up equity stake in the proposed major port in the state, site for which is yet to be finalised.
Shipping Minister G K Vasan had yesterday said that the ministry will establish new major ports in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal as part of a maritime agenda that includes a ramp up of port infrastructure by 2020.
“West Bengal government wants to hold some equity in the proposed major port. It is likely to be set up on PPP (public private partnership) model,” a Shipping Ministry official told PTI.
However, the modalities are yet to be worked out, it is likely that the state and the centre would hold minority stake and the private developer a majority stake in the project, which would provide the private firm autonomy to operate and maintain the port.
“The proposal is at a preliminary stage and once it materialises after deliberations between the central and state governments it can be firmed up. Then a special purpose vehicle would be formed which would invite bids from the interested private parties for constructing the major port project,” the official added.
At present, there is Kolkata (with Haldia) major port in West Bengal.
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The Ministry of Shipping also plans to set up major port in Andhra Pradesh. It may be build on the lines of Ennore port in Tamil Nadu.
The government has set a massive target of awarding projects worth Rs 14,500 crore in the current fiscal (2012-13) to augment major ports’ capacity to about 934 million tonnes per annum.
Shipping Ministry targets to create 244 million tonnes of port capacity during 2012-13, spread across 42 projects.
The capacity of major ports by the end of March, 2012 was recorded at 689.83 million tonnes per annum, while the capacity including about 200 minor ports under the control of states was at 1,200 million tonnes per annum.
India at present has 12 major ports - Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Kolkata (with Haldia), Chennai, Visakhapatanam, Cochin, Paradip, New Mangalore, Marmagao, Ennore, Tuticorin and Kandla.