Pranab calls for strong port-academic bodies link

Chennai, Jan 18 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today called for a strong linkage between Ports and Academic bodies.

Inaugurating an international conference on Infrastructure Development in the Ports and Shipping Sector and its management, he said in this world of knowledge explosion, Indian ports would be left behind in the race for cargo handling if they do not upgrade themelves with the latest information and knowledge.

Describing academic bodies as the store houses of knowledge, he said the interaction between the ports and academics in related fields would be mutually beneficial. While port personnel would be enriched by the knowledge from academic side, the academics, in turn, would be expsoed to practical aspects of the functions in Ports.

He said Indian ports have to be highly competitive to attract cargoes from other regions due to the growth in the development of international ports in neighbouring countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Colombo. ''It has been recognised that a port's hinterland is no longer confined to the area in its vicinity but has become extensive and includes the countries in other continents also'', he added.

Considering the increase in volumes of container cargoes and the capacity limitations faced by the road sector, it was essential to upgrade the rail movement of containers, which was ''more economical and faster mode of transporation, Mr Mukharjee said''.

Stressing the need for capacity expansion of the ports, he said the existing infrastructure had to be improved and modernised, while creating additional capacities.

''The development of infrastructure that services the Chennai port together with the creation of additional capacity is bound to promote India's trade with East Asia and give further fillip to our Look East Policy'', he added.

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