Experts call for better connectivity of ports

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) There is an urgent need for infrastructure development and connectivity of ports by the government, Former Secretary Shipping Micheal Pinto said here today.

Speaking at a conference on 'Containerisation for Trade Momentum' organised by CII, Mr Pinto said that the private sector would account for two-thirds of the total investment in ports, but the delays, security and a lack of rail and road capacity connecting ports with the hinterland had constrained the growth of ports in India.

''Achieving target of 20 million TEUs from India's ports, from the current level of 4.6 million TEUs, the rail freight corridor envisaged by the Railways is to be expedited,'' he added.

Moreover, it is important to focus on ports on both the east and west coasts because the emphasis was on the west coast at present, he said.

India could look at feeder ships comprising of super ships and large cargo ships as a business opportunity in the future, said SCI Director SS Rangnekar.

Earlier, IIM Ahmedabad Public Systems group Professor G Raghuraman said the growth rate of container traffic was outstripping GDP growth with foreign trade growing at 20 per cent every year.

UNI DKS RA HS2108