Except for Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Mormugao, all other major ports have handled cargo almost at par with or more than that handled during the previous year.
The reasons for decline in traffic at some Major Ports include:
– Ban on mining of Iron ore and export of Iron ore;
– Less import of finished fertilizers;
– General recession in Global economy;
– Direction of Hon’ble High Court of Madras to shift handling of dirty cargo out of Chennai Port.
The remedial measures taken by the Government in the matter are as under:
1. Construction of new berths and terminals to enhance port capacity to minimise pre-berthing detention time and reduce turnaround time of vessels calling on the Ports;
2. Modernising berths with state of the art loading/unloading equipment to improve operational efficiency;
3. Deepening of channels and berths so that ports can accommodate larger vessels;
4. Improving rail/road connectivity of Ports for speedy evacuation of cargo.
This information was given by Shri G.K. Vasan, Union Minister for Shipping, in a written reply to a question in the Rajyasabha.
[mappress]
Press Release, May 3, 2013