Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu on Wednesday called for enhanced efforts for increasing the efficiency of major ports in the country.
In a meeting of the Ministry held here to review the performance of the major ports with regard to the implementation of Plan Projects and efficiency indicators, Baalu said that various options should be examined for augmenting the dredging capacity in the country.
The Minister asked the chairpersons to ensure that major ports dedicate their equipment available for on-going dredging requirements. He said that efforts should be made by the major ports to streamline the procedures for procurement of tugs and other equipment.
It was informed at the meeting that the half-yearly traffic handled by the major ports in 2006-07 was approximately 215 MT which is 6.13 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. Efficiency parameters like turn round time and pre-berthing time have registered improvement over the corresponding period last year in respect of most of the major ports.
However, in some ports, this increase is due to priority berthing being accorded to wheat and fertilizer vessels.
Baalu also reviewed the progress of important projects such as Off-Shore Container Terminal, second Chemical Berth and Harbour Wall Berths at Mumbai Port, Capital Dredging Projects at JNPT, Paradip, Ennore and Tuticorin Ports, International Container Transhipment Terminal Project at Cochin, Development of Facilities at Tekra (Tuna) at Kandla.
In a meeting of the Ministry held here to review the performance of the major ports with regard to the implementation of Plan Projects and efficiency indicators, Baalu said that various options should be examined for augmenting the dredging capacity in the country.
The Minister asked the chairpersons to ensure that major ports dedicate their equipment available for on-going dredging requirements. He said that efforts should be made by the major ports to streamline the procedures for procurement of tugs and other equipment.
It was informed at the meeting that the half-yearly traffic handled by the major ports in 2006-07 was approximately 215 MT which is 6.13 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. Efficiency parameters like turn round time and pre-berthing time have registered improvement over the corresponding period last year in respect of most of the major ports.
However, in some ports, this increase is due to priority berthing being accorded to wheat and fertilizer vessels.
Baalu also reviewed the progress of important projects such as Off-Shore Container Terminal, second Chemical Berth and Harbour Wall Berths at Mumbai Port, Capital Dredging Projects at JNPT, Paradip, Ennore and Tuticorin Ports, International Container Transhipment Terminal Project at Cochin, Development of Facilities at Tekra (Tuna) at Kandla.
He asked the Ministry officials to coordinate efforts with the Port Authorities to expedite the work on the pending projects.