There is ample scope for creation of port facilities and infrastructure on the East Coast with an estimated investment of over Rs. 1.15 lakh crores to cater to India’s increasing trade with East Asian nations, Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) Chairman Ajeya Kallam has said.In his key-note address at a conference on ‘Ports and Logistics – Investment Scenario and Opportunities for Ports and Logistics Sector in India’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Dec. 17 here, he said: “Rising trade with China and demand for coal to fuel power projects in Eastern India may also lead to growth in East Coast ports.”
Quoting KPMG study on Indian port and its capacity, Mr. Kallam stated: “The share of West Coast ports’ capacity is estimated to drop to 66 per cent in 2014 from 77 per cent in 2010. In contrast, the share of East Coast ports would rise by as much as 11 per cent in the same period to 34 per cent.”
As part of the capacity building measures, the Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 envisages construction of a major port on the East Coast at an estimated cost of Rs. 7,000 crores for which Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district has been mooted by the Andhra Pradesh State Government for approval from the Central Government, Mr. Kallam added.
Laying emphasis on capacity augmentation and mechanisation at Visakhapatnam Port, he pointed out that the Port Trust had awarded mechanisation of six berths with an investment of about Rs.1,500 crores under PPP mode in the past two years.
“Three more projects involving an investment of Rs. 2,000 crores would be awarded by March/ April next year. VPT recently awarded dredging work at a cost of Rs. 300 crores to reduce the waiting time for ships,” he concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment