Cabinet go-ahead for 4th terminal at JNPT

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) on Thursday approved a proposal to develop fourth container terminal at the country’s busiest Jawaharlal Nehru Port at an estimated cost of Rs 6,696 crore.

The proposed terminal having handling capacity of 4.8 million TEUs (twenty-feet equivalent units) containers annually would be constructed on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT).

The port project would be implemented in two phases with the first phase commissioning within three years since signing of the concession agreement. "The project would be developed on public-private partnership (PPP) mode to reduce burden on the government funds which are not sufficient to meet all infrastructure needs of the country," an official statement said.

The government also cleared a proposal to build standalone container handling facility at Mumbai port at a cost of Rs 600 crore. The project would be implemented within two years from the date of the award of the project.
The CCI also gave its approval to mechanisation of coal handling facilities and upgradation of cargo berth at outer harbour of Visakhapatnam.

"The project will help in de-congestion of the port due to faster unloading of coal after mechanisation and strengthening of the berth," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the union cabinet cleared the Clinical Establishment Bill 2010 that would make it mandatory for all clinics in the country to be registered with the "national registry". The bill aims to regulate and ensure a uniform standard and quality of medical services provided in the country, including clinical trials. The proposal will be initially implemented in five smaller states and union territories before being rolled out nationally.

"It is a path-breaking decision. It had been in the pipeline for long. It is upto the states to implement it. It would help in providing better services and regulation of services provided ," union information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said.

The government also approved a National Tobacco Control Programme to create awareness about its harmful effects.