Major ports functioning from Urban centers which face limitations on water fronts and acute shortage of land in the port area should think in terms of setting up satellite ports to step up cargo handling capacity, the Port and Shipping ministry has asked the Port authority
administrations in a recent communiqué
The ministry has called for toning up port infrastructure so that waiting period for ships for inward as well as outbound cargos reaches zero level in the next three years.
The satellite port concept was tried out in 1980s. when Jawaharlal Nehru Port was constructed as a satellite port for Mumbai. Now JNPT with as many as five container terminals has eclipsed the Mumbai port. Now the government is toying with the idea of constructing a satellite port for JNPA in Dahanu. The satellite port concept did not work when Kamarajar port was created at Ennore close to Chennai port. Since there was no appreciable increase in volumes in both the ports, Chennai port took over Kamarajar port two years ago.
Port capacity required would go up by six times in next 25 years
The ministry is anticipating that the port capacity required would go up by six times in next 25 years. Industry sources however contended the capacity created in the east coast port are working to fifty per cent of the capacity while the ministry is concentrating on developing port infra and connectivity for west coast ports. It is time the ministry tones up infra in east coast ports so that some of them may not be reduced to the status of feeder ports.
The ministry has directed that ports prepare a master plan 2047 including cargo projections, ware housing requirement and attempts to bring down logistics costs. Indian port association has been asked to coordinate with ports to complete the project.
