Govt takes up port modernisation

The Union government has taken up modernisation and expansion of 43 ports at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore to add about 220 mn tonne capacity to these projects. The current capacity of all major ports was 744.91 mtpa as on March 31, 2013. Due to the ban on iron-ore mining and global slowdown, India's traffic last year at its major ports declined. The targets set for cargo handling by 13 major ports, including Kandla, JNPT and Haldia Dock Complex, for the current fiscal is 609 mn tonne. Contact: The Union Government. Website: pib.nic.in