Older port terminals to charge market rates: Panel formed

28 Aug 2023 CW Team

Cargo handling terminals managed by private companies at major ports prior to the enactment of a new 2021 law governing state-owned ports are on the brink of gaining permission to apply market rates for their services. This landmark decision, seen as a game-changer in the ports sector, aims to balance the move towards market-driven pricing without violating existing concession agreements. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has constituted a panel, led by Sanjay Sethi, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, to assess the feasibility of allowing older public-private-partnership (PPP) cargo terminal operators to adopt a market-driven pricing structure, similar to post-2021 operators.

The Major Port Authorities Act had originally empowered 11 state-run ports to determine market rates for new cargo terminals, leaving the fate of older handlers uncertain. The newly formed panel is tasked with formulating guidelines for transitioning these older cargo terminals to a market-driven rate framework, all while considering commercial aspects and port authority interests. This move aims to ensure that both the private operators' gains and the port authorities' benefits are fairly balanced.

Under consideration is a mechanism wherein older cargo terminals could charge market-based rates while adhering to the revenue share or royalty obligations outlined in concession agreements. This innovative approach aims to safeguard minimum throughput levels while enabling private operators to capitalise on market-driven rates. The potential for increased transparency is also on the horizon, with the requirement for terminals to display their market rates on their websites and provide advance notice of any rate revisions.

This significant policy shift is anticipated to level the playing field between different terminal operators while promoting viability and growth within the ports sector.

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..