The government expects the private sector to chip in Rs 34,000 crore of the total Rs 55,800 crore required by the country's port sector, through the Public-Private Partnership route."We expect private sector investment to the tune of Rs 34,000 crore in the port sector," Shipping Ministry Secretary A K Mohapatra told a conference on infrastructure.Of the total requirement, he said Rs 32,564 crore would be required for 76 projects for berth construction, Rs 6,034 crore for 25 channel deepening projects, Rs 2,633 crore for equipment, Rs 5,956 crore for 45 connectivity projects and the remaining Rs 8,347 crore for other 78 projects.Elaborating on the projects, he said nine projects to connect each major port with a four-lane road is being undertaken at an expense of Rs 1,859 crore."The project entails almost 299.42 km of road to be built in the next 1-3 years," he said.All the major ports would also be connected by a double line rail. Eight projects entailing an investment of Rs 2,118 crore have been identified by the Ministry.The Secretary informed that dredging will also be undertaken at JNPT, Paradip, Mumbai, Ennore, Tuticorin, and Vishakapatnam ports.Mohapatra said there is immense potential for greenfield ports, captive facilities, besides expansion and upgradation of existing facilities.He also said that the Government is planning an Indian Maritime University and two international size shipyards."Investment in in-land water transport infrastructure has also been lined up," he added.
