First Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Shipping

First Consultative Committee meeting (of the 15th Lok Sabha )of the Ministry of Shipping takes place. Some notes:

1. The traffic handling capacity of Major Ports has gone up by about 48 per cent in the last five years. It has increased from 389.5 MT in 2003-04 to 574.77 MT in 2008-09.
2. A three-fold increase is projected in traffic handling capacity of Major Ports by 2025-26 by augmenting the capacity to 1595.07
3. Traffic handled by Indian ports have registered a growth of 5.14 per cent in the period from April to December 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
4. The traffic in India had registered a growth of 2.1 per cent during 2007-08,despite global economic downturn.
5. The 12 Major Ports, six each on the West and the East coast handled 72 percent of the total port traffic while 28 per cent of the port traffic was handled by 66 non-major ports.

National Maritime Development Programme
The National Maritime Development Programme is a major initiative that spreads over a period of seven years starting from April 01, 2005. The programme will conclude in March 2012. 276 projects in all have been identified under the project with a total investment of Rs. 55804 crore. Of 276, 48 projects have already been completed and 70 are at various stages of implementation.

Public Private Partnership (PPP)
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Major Ports has been given priority in order to infuse funds, induct latest technology, improved management practices and for addition of capacity. FDI up to 100 per cent is also permitted for construction and maintenance of ports and harbours.