Union shipping ministry has simplified security clearance rules for companies who wish to take up port projects.
According to the new rules, security clearances issued by the ministry to a company would be valid for three years. The move is intended to fast-track port projects.
The government has also made it mandatory for the companies that during three years, they would have to inform the Shipping Ministry about any changes in the management control and more than 10 per cent change in the shareholding by any shareholder within two weeks. If they fail to do so, the security clearance already accorded can be withdrawn.
The new guidelines says:”Once security clearance is accorded to any company by the Ministry of Shipping, based on the inputs of relevant Ministries or Departments or Organisations with respect to any port project, such clearance in respect of the company will be valid for three years”.
The Ministry of Shipping would share the list of companie or bidders with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Intelligence Bureau, Cabinet Secretariat and Ministry of External Affairs on a case to case basis for seeking security inputs, the notification said.
The new norms will also apply to port projects being developed by coastal states as well as private ports.
The government made it clear that price bids for port contracts would be opened only after pre-qualified bidders are granted security clearance.
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