Major ports have so far completed 29 projects worth Rs 3,846 crore under the National Maritime Development Programme, it was stated in Parliament recently. Over the last three years, major ports have spent an estimated Rs 4,500 crore on NMDP projects, including those on projects that are yet to be completed.
Out of NMDP's total outlay of Rs 55,804 crore, as much as Rs 34,505 crore (or 62 per cent) is expected to come from private sector entities. Major ports are expected to infuse Rs 13,772 crore (or 25 per cent) through internal accruals. Budgetary support along with financial participation from supporting entities like National Highways Authority of India, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd is expected to account for the remaining 13 per cent.
Major ports are expected to handle 708.09 million tonnes in 2011-12, the terminal year of the ongoing 11th Plan period. During 2007-08, major ports handled 519.16 million tonnes of traffic that was 12 per cent higher than the 463.78 million tonnes in 2006-07. In the bygone year, Kandla Port Trust emerged as the busiest port handling 64.89 million tonnes accounting for 12.5 per cent of the total traffic handled by major ports. Visakhapatnam Port Trust came a close second with 64.60 million tonnes.