New Delhi, Aug 12 (NationPress) A total of 25 public-private partnership (PPP) projects, valued at Rs 13,355 crore, have been awarded by the major ports across the nation over the past five years, as reported to Parliament on Tuesday.

The government has pinpointed private sector involvement as a vital element in the modernization and enhancement of the infrastructure at major ports.

There are 12 major ports under the jurisdiction of the Central government, while non-major ports fall under the governance of state authorities, including the Maritime Board.

To entice private investments in major ports, the Central government implemented the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, replacing the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Additionally, the Model Concession Agreement has been updated, and Guidelines for Tariff Fixation for PPP projects have been established, as stated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.

“The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has not received any reports regarding poor working conditions or safety violations at major ports in 2024-25,” he added.

In a different response, the minister noted that the government has implemented several measures to boost the cargo handling capacity of all major ports in the country through modernization, mechanization, construction of new berths and terminals, capital dredging, and improvements in road and rail connectivity.

“The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority, and Kamarajar Port Limited, located in Tamil Nadu, have enhanced their capacities by 177.12%, 58.06%, and 162.16%, respectively, over the last decade,” Sonowal stated.

Meanwhile, to promote environmentally friendly transport on National Waterways, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has commissioned the construction of 8 hybrid electric catamarans at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Additionally, a hydrogen-fueled cell vessel has been deployed at Varanasi. Multi-modal logistics facilities, including multi-modal and inter-modal terminals on NW-1, NW-2, and NW-16, have been developed for enhanced port connectivity, linking to Kolkata/Haldia Ports via waterways.

Furthermore, the Indian Ports Association (IPA) has been tasked with conducting a feasibility study for the establishment of a Cargo Facilitation Centre and the integration of coastal transport with waterway movements in India, the minister noted.