During the year 2013-14, mega port projects like the setting up of the fourth container terminal at JN Port, mega container terminal in Chennai and expansion of container terminal in Visakhapatnam may come up for bidding.
Union government is said to be taking steps to expedite award of key infrastructure projects, including port projects.
As part of this effort, the union shipping ministry had streamlined the process for security clearances in December 2012.
The ministry also fixed the time line for processing of clearances and specified that any decision on security nod would be valid for three years, unless there is a change in management control or change in over 10 per cent ownership. The ministry also mandated all state governments to get security clearances for their ports.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the union home ministry may accord security clearance to Adani Port SEZ, Gammon Infra and Punj Lloyd to bid for port development projects. This is based on inputs provided from the Home Ministry to the Shipping Ministry for security clearance.
These firms were denied security approval in the last few years and hence they were unable to participate in port projects. Some firms like Adani Port and Gammon even had exposure in operational ports such as Mundra, Kandla, Mormugao and Visakhapatnam.
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