Shipping ministry to seek port-road interface

The shipping ministry is planning to request the ministry of road transport and highways to include the development of road connectivity from the nearest national highway to minor ports in the latter's priority agenda.

This was discussed at the fifth meeting of the Maritime States Development Council meeting held earlier this month.

It was also decided that state governments should give a detailed proposal to develop an interface between highways and minor ports to the ministry of road transport, including the extent of their participation.

The possibility of major ports contributing towards the equity in the special purpose vehicles (SPVs) on road connectivity would be considered too.

The ministry would also ask minor ports to identify the projects and the quantum of commitment they are willing to put in the SPVs.

Good port connectivity through road and rail is considered important for the smooth movement of cargo to the hinterlands and back, and it forms the very basis of unfettered trade.

The shipping ministry's initiative in pushing for connectivity with the road ministry is significant. Even though port connectivity forms a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project of the railways, it is not in the agenda of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Another important decision taken at the meeting was regarding the constraints posed by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) specifications for port development.

It was proposed that both the existing and new ports be excluded from CRZ regulations. Section 13 of the CRZ Act prohibits any kind of activity within 500 meters of the sea coast.

The expansion of the existing ports will require prior clearance of the environment ministry which can restrict development activities in the existing ports which is mainly taken up in the CRZ.

Building of new ports also faces similar problems. It has also been proposed that the powers to grant environmental clearance be restored to the the shipping ministry.