Shri T. R. Baalu, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways reviewed implementation of Port Development Projects here today with Chairmen of all Major Ports and senior officials of the Department of Shipping. He emphasized the need for matching development of ports in the country with the growing EXIM trade. While reviewing of projects under the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP), he stressed the need for prioritization of the capacity addition projects in Ports.
Keeping the growing vessel size in view, he told chief executives of the ports to urgently go for deepening of port approach channels. He expressed unhappiness over the delay in implementation of the channel deepening project of Paradip Port. He however, lauded the efforts of Kandla Port to develop additional facilities at Tuna-Tekra. The status of Sethusamudram Project was also reviewed and the Minister expressed his happiness over the timely progress of the project.
While reviewing the rail & road connectivity projects, the Minister advised all the Chairmen to plan in advance keeping the future capacity addition in mind so that related infrastructure is in place by the time the berths are built. Chairman of Chennai Port was asked to expedite the feasibility report for Chennai Port – Maduravoyal elevated road corridor project. The Minister also reviewed the status of rail-road connectivity to International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam. The Chairperson Mumbai Port Trust briefed the Minister on the status of strengthening of Vadala – Kurla Rail Link and told that as advised by the Minister, the Mumbai Port Trust would fully finance Rs. 120-Crore Project through Ministry of Railways as deposit-work and this is in the final stages of consideration of Ministry of Railway. The Chairman Paradip Port Trust informed the Minister that Paradip Port has recently conceived the addition of seven more berths over and above the earlier identified projects under NMDP.
The Minister expressed his concern over the poor expenditure on plan schemes and exhorted the Chairmen to gear up for full spending of plan allocations. Any shortfall in plan expenditure would be viewed very seriously, the Minister cautioned. He also expressed concern over the increase in pre-berthing detention time of ships in certain ports and directed the Chairmen to address the problem immediately. He also reviewed the steps taken in Jawaharlal Nehru Port to avoid congestion during monsoon and advised the Chairperson in-charge of JNPT to take remedial measures in time.
The Minister also expressed grave concern over accidents in certain ports in recent past. “The training of personnel is an important area and ports should take steps to ensure regular in-service training of their personnel as well as acquire modern navigational devices to ensure that accidents are avoided”, he advised.
The need for energy and fuel conservation was stressed by the Minister and all the Port Chairmen were advised to ensure savings on this account and submit monthly reports to the Ministry.
The Minister also advised all chief executives to have regular meetings with all the users and stakeholders regarding their grievances as well as to effect improvements in service delivery mechanism as per their requirements.
Earlier in the day, a delegation of Indian National Ship Owners Association led by its President Shri Y.D. Khatau met the Minister and highlighted some tax-related issues faced by the Indian Shipping Industry. These issues are : withholding tax on the Charter-hire payment, the Service Tax on the Shipping Industry and the Income Tax on the Seafarers working on the Foreign Flag Vessels. It was brought to the notice of the Minister that the Shipping Industry in all the neighbouring countries as well as in most other Maritime countries is exempted from such taxation. The Minister assured them that the Ministry would look into these aspects and recommend for their redressal to the appropriate government authorities.
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(Release ID :18698)