Govt clears licensing, leasing of land for 5 projects at ports

NEW DELHI: The government today approved a proposal for licensing of land to developers for four projects at major ports under the Public Private Partnership mode.

It also cleared leasing of land for a cement bagging plant at Cochin port.

"The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for licensing of land to the concessionaires for four projects to be taken up in the PPP mode and one project on lease basis based on tender-cum-auction for setting up a cement bagging plant at Cochin Port," an official statement said.

However, it did not give the details of the projects barring one in Cochin port.

It said the decision will help in augmenting the capacity of ports expeditiously through PPP mode and bring about efficiency in operations at major ports that will benefit the trade and the overall economy.

India has 12 Major ports - Kolkata-Halida, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Ennore, Chennai, V O Chidambaranar (formerly Tuticorin), Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru and Kandla.

Around 95 per cent of India's foreign trade by volume and 70 per cent by value is transported through sea. Major ports account for 75 per cent of the total cargo by volume handled at the country's about 200 ports.