Ports

Several developmental projects got under way at the major ports during the year. The year also witnessed significant growth in traffic and capacity at ports as well as growth in tonnage. During the year perspective plans were prepared for the 12 major ports, alongside the national development plan. In another development, the draft model concession agreement for PPP projects was finalised during the year, and is awaiting government approval.
Following the decision by the Committee on Infrastructure headed by the prime minister, the 12 major ports engaged international consultants for preparation of their respective perspective plans (business plans) for 20 years which would include an action plan for seven years also. These plans are expected to serve as guides for the major ports in preparing their annual plans and undertaking various developmental projects in future.
Mumbai Port Trust: The new offshore container terminal costing Rs 1,228 crore was awarded to a consortium of Gammon India and Dragados SPL of Spain, to be implemented on BOT basis.
Paradip Port Trust: Proposals for a new iron ore berth on BOT basis (Rs 505 crore) and a new coal berth on BOT basis (Rs 612 crore) were approved in principle by the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee, in March 2007.
Tuticorin Port Trust: Approval of Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) received for the project of Development of 8th Berth as the Second Container Terminal at Tuticorin Port on BOT basis. Further action is under process.
Ennore Port Ltd: The port company signed Concessions agreements with the selected bidders for development of an 8 million tpa coal terminal and a 12 million tpa iron ore terminal, to be developed on BOT basis. The projects will together cost Rs 828 crore.
Chennai Port Trust: The licence agreement for the second container terminal was signed in March 2007. The Rs 495 crore to come up with private sector participation is scheduled to commission by April 2009.
Modern deep sea port in West Bengal: The proposal to construct a deepwater port in West Bengal gathered momentum with the Department of Shipping initiating the process of selecting consultants. The proposed port, with a minimum draft of 17m, will be an alternative to the Kolkata port that suffered from draft limitations.
Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project: Dredging work on a stretch of channel in Palk Strait (Package D) that was awarded to Dredging Corporation of India Ltd was under progress in 2006-07. The contract dredging at Adam's Bridge and Southern Parts of Palk Bay/Palk Strait (Package A, B & C) under SSCP, were also awarded to DCIL. About 28 million cubic metres of dredging has been undertaken so far. Dredging in Adam's Bridge has been suspended in view of Supreme Court orders in August and September 2007.

Rail-road connectivity
During the year 2006-07, Railways completed projects for rail connectivity to the major ports at Haldia, New Mangalore, Kandla and JNPT. The project for road connectivity to Visakhapatnam Port was also completed. Rail connectivity to the Vallarpadam international container transshipment terminal in Kochi was approved March 2007, with a cost of Rs.245.67 crore.

Traffic growth
In the first eight months (April to November) of the current financial year 2007-08, traffic handled by 12 major ports stood at 333.27 million tonnes, up 13 per cent from 294.6 million tonnes in the same period of 2006-07.