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Cargo traffic at 12 major ports in the country declined by 2.58 per cent at 545.68 million tonnes during 2012-13, according to the government.
The cargo handled by 12 major ports stood at 545.68 million tonnes, including 93.62 million tonnes at Kandla port, during 2012-13, Shipping Minister G K Vasan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
These ports had handled 560.13 million tonnes of cargo in 2011-12 while the same was 596.03 million tonnes in 2010-11.
The port capacity was 747.51 million tonnes by the end of the last fiscal, whereas the government had envisaged a capacity of 1001.8 million tonnes by March 2012.
"The estimated capacity expansion target of major ports by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) was 1001.80 million tonnes per annum as per 11th Plan working group report for port sector," Vasan said.
He added the sanctioned projects were being closely monitored by major ports as well as the Shipping Ministry in order to ensure speedy implementation.
The Ministry has taken various steps including standardisation of various documents like model concession agreement, "enhanced delegation of financial powers to Shipping Ministry to accord investment approvals for PPP projects, streamlining the security clearance procedures and close monitoring," he said.
India at present has 12 Major ports - Kolkata-Halida, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Ennore, Chennai, V O Chidambaranar (formerly Tuticorin), Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru and Kandla. PTI NAM NS 05061623 NNNN
