Govt awards 13 port projects worth Rs.5,515 cr in Apr-Nov

During April-November period, the Union Shipping Ministry has awarded Rs 5,515 crore worth 80 million tonne (mt) projects. The awarded projects are more than 70 per cent of the 114 mt awarded last year at an investment of Rs 5,515 crore, according to reports. This year, so far, a total of 13 projects, including five public-private partnerships (PPPs), have been awarded. The total private investment expected from these is Rs 2,514 crore. The capacity of the 12 major ports is 745 mt a year. To add 156 mt at an estimated cost of Rs 9,177 crore for 2013-14, the Union government plans to award 14 more PPP projects and six non-PPP projects to bring an investment of Rs 800 crore. Installation of mechanised iron-ore handling facility and the modernisation of an ore-handling complex at the Visakhapatnam Port is the biggest project awarded so far. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 940 crore, with a capacity of 23.7 mt.