Baalu calls for enhanced security measures at ports

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) Expressing satisfaction over the performance of major ports, Shipping Minister T R Baalu today asked them to gear up for implementing their capacity augmentation plan for the XI Five-Year Plan period in a time-bound manner and also initiate measures to enhance security.

Mr Baalu, who chaired a Review Meeting on the performance of the ports, Dredging Corporation of India (DCI)and the Sethusamudaram Corporation Ltd here, noted with satisfaction that major ports handled 296 MT of traffic till November in the current fiscal, registering a nearly 8 per cent increase over the corresponding period a year earlier.

The minister was informed that efficiency parameters like turnaround time and pre-berthing time had registered an overall improvement over the corresponding period last year in respect of most of the major ports.

Various issues like plan expenditure, implementation of projects and efficiency indicators were also discussed at the meeting.

Mr Baalu asked the DCI to take immediate measures to augment its capacity by procurement of dredgers, self-propelled barges and upgradation of equipment to handle the burgeoning dredging opportunities in the major ports as well as tackling the ongoing dredging works at the Sethsamudaram Corporation Ltd (SCL).

He said a committee, headed by the Chairperson of Indian Ports Association, was likely to present its report on standardisation of tender documents shortly so as to avoid procedural delays in the tendering procedure.

Mr Baalu also reviewed the measures taken by the ports to enhance security and directed the port chiefs to submit detailed reports on the action taken in this regard to the ministry.

Several other important projects, which came up for review, included the ones identified for implementation under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP). These included the Off-Shore Container Terminal Project, 2nd Chemical Berth and Harbour Wall Berths at at the Mumbai Port Trust, capital dredging projects at JNPT, Paradip, Ennore and Tuticorin ports, International Container Trans-shipment Terminal Project at Cochin.

Further, detailed discussions were held on development of facilities at Tekra (Tuna) at Kandla, development of Vasco Bay at Mormugao Port, 2nd Container Terminals at Chennai and Tuticorin Ports, 4th Container Terminal and Marine Liquid Terminal at JN Port, port Connectivity Projects and setting up of an international-size shipyard each on the East and West coasts.

UNI