Shipping Ministry would award 25 port projects of about Rs 800 crore under the 'Public Private Partnership' (PPP) scheme during the current financial year.
"We would award 25 PPP port projects in the current fiscal," a Shipping Ministry official said, adding that the collective value of these contracts would be about Rs 700-800 crore.
Two of these projects at Paradip and Ennore near Chennai have already been awarded to Sterlite-Leighton and Eredene Capital consortium, respectively.
These projects also include creation of mega container terminal or bulk transshipment at Chennai Port, New Mangalore Port and conversion of berth for container terminal at Tuticorin port.
Installation of three mechanised handling facilities at the Vizag port in Andhra Pradesh.
Development of the two eastern wings or keys at the Vizag Port.
Creation of container and container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and construction of two riverine jetties at Kolkata Port.
Jetty is a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from erosion.
These 25 PPP projects also include development and operation of two berths at Indira dock as dry bulk cargo terminal in Bombay and development and operation of a dry commercial cargo at Mumbai Port.
The government may also award an international cruise terminal at Cochin, he added.
There are 12 ports in India -- Kolkata (with Haldia), Paradip, Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Ennore, Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla -- which handle over 500 million tonnes of cargo annually.
