11 ports to get face-lift

Rs 6,300cr proposed for deepening of entrance channels of major ports

The government is proposing to invest Rs 6,300 crore for deepening the entrance channels and strengthening the berths of all the 11 major ports except Kolkata port in the country.

The shipping ministry has prepared a detailed project report after receiving proposals and designs from the ports in this regard.

Akula R Rao, development advisor (Ports), department of shipping, told Business Standard that the proposals and designs would be sent very shortly for the approval of the Union government.

"Our ports entrance channels' draft is between 10 metres and 12 metres, except those of Mumbai and New Mangalore. These channels are able to allow only smaller vessels of up to 65,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage). In the present global scenario, these smaller vessels are becoming outdated as shipping companies are turning to bigger vessels to reduce freight charges. Keeping this development in mind, the government is taking up this project," he said.

After completion of the project, up to 14 metres drought vessels with a capacity to carry cargo weighing between 1.25 lakh tonnes and 1.75 lakh tonnes can enter inner harbours, he added.

As part of the project, ports would take up berth strengthening works to accommodate bigger vessels.

"Of the total project cost of Rs 6,300 crore, we are expecting 33 per cent financial assistance from the Centre, and 33 per cent from ports' internal resources. The remaining could be generated through external borrowings," he said.

The shipping ministry is planning to invite private dredging companies' equity on revenue sharing basis to complete the project at the earliest.

Creation of additional port facilities and reconstruction of damaged ports in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would be completed by 2008, he said, adding the government was spending about Rs 1,105 crore on the project.