Committee to be formed for the development of 150 minor ports in India

18 Oct 2019 CW Team

The Maritime State Development Council’s 17th meeting saw attendance from the central advisory body of the sector – Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPPTA), representatives from maritime states and the Shipping Ministry, where issues related to the minor-ports development and improvement in coastal shipping were taken up. The aim of the gathering was to re-shift focus from only developing major ports to developing both, major and minor ports.

States housing minor ports will be given the option to either take up the development on their own accord or through the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. Reportedly, the Shipping Ministry will provide the states with a plan in the span of the next six months.

As reported, there are presently, 12 major ports and a total of 204 minor ports in the country. Out of the 204 minor ports, only 44 are operational. The committee has hence; taken up the responsibility to conduct a detailed study of their downstream industry and the agriculture opportunities they have to offer. The plan handed over to the states will reflect this study and will be a comprehensive action plan on how to successfully tackle development to make their respective ports functional.

Reportedly, the meeting also took into account other subjects, including the rules relating to the movement of barrages between states. Every state has a different set of rules and therefore, inter-state movement becomes a major problem. The members decided to put into place a uniform set of guidelines for all states to adhere to, which would relatively ease the moving process.

In order to form a national grid connecting all ports, the government has decided to form a committee that will assess the development potential of around 150 non-major ports in the country and will subsequently link them with major ports. This interlinking will aid India’s growth in terms of its export-import (EXIM) cargo. The Maritime State Development Council’s 17th meeting saw attendance from the central advisory body of the sector – Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPPTA), representatives from maritime states and the Shipping Ministry, where issues related to the minor-ports development and improvement in coastal shipping were taken up. The aim of the gathering was to re-shift focus from only developing major ports to developing both, major and minor ports. States housing minor ports will be given the option to either take up the development on their own accord or through the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. Reportedly, the Shipping Ministry will provide the states with a plan in the span of the next six months. As reported, there are presently, 12 major ports and a total of 204 minor ports in the country. Out of the 204 minor ports, only 44 are operational. The committee has hence; taken up the responsibility to conduct a detailed study of their downstream industry and the agriculture opportunities they have to offer. The plan handed over to the states will reflect this study and will be a comprehensive action plan on how to successfully tackle development to make their respective ports functional. Reportedly, the meeting also took into account other subjects, including the rules relating to the movement of barrages between states. Every state has a different set of rules and therefore, inter-state movement becomes a major problem. The members decided to put into place a uniform set of guidelines for all states to adhere to, which would relatively ease the moving process.

Real Estate

07 Aug 2026

BXB Estates Sets AED 110 Million Jumeirah Golf Estates Record

BXB Estates has completed an AED 110 million residential transaction at Jumeirah Golf Estates, setting a new sales record for the prestigious Dubai residential community.Negotiated by Alfie Tabrez, Managing Partner of BXB Estates, the deal surpassed the previous record of AED 58 million for a completed ready villa in the development.The six-bedroom residence offers 21,714 sq ft of built-up space on a 15,873-sq-ft plot. It features nine bathrooms, four living lounges, a home office, bar lounge, private cinema and rooftop terrace.The property also includes a dedicated wellness area comprising a ..

Infrastructure Urban

07 Aug 2026

SECR Floats Rs 6,019 Mn EPC Tender For Paradol Nagpur Link

South East Central Railway (SECR) has invited bids for an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a new broad gauge single line between Paradol Takeoff Point and Nagpur Road Station in Chhattisgarh. The contract carries an estimated cost of Rs 6,019.0 mn and requires an earnest money deposit of Rs 120.4 mn. The work is framed as an EPC assignment intended to strengthen regional rail infrastructure. The tender, issued under number CAO-C-BSP-26-27-15, specifies a completion period of 730 days and a bid validity of 180 days. Two pre-bid meetings are scheduled for 24 Augu..

Infrastructure Transport

07 Aug 2026

Indian Railways Reports Nine Per Cent Rise In July Freight Loading

Indian Railways handled 141.3 million tonnes (141.3 mn t) of freight in July, marking a rise of nine per cent year on year. Freight loading maintained a positive trajectory across the network compared with the same month last year. Passenger traffic also increased in July, contributing to higher overall network utilisation. The July outcome continued a pattern of steady monthly gains, reflecting gradual improvement in industrial and logistics activity. The growth in freight volumes reflected stronger demand across multiple sectors and improvements in logistics and train turnarounds. Enhanced r..