“We have given the nod for development of greenfield ports at Mithivirdi, Simar, Vansi Borsi, Maroli, Khambat and Mahua at investments ranging from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 6,000 crore,” said Gujarat chief nautical officer S Mathur. “Another Rs 23,000 crore have been earmarked for upgradation of existing ports and a lot of this development is happening with private participation.” Not surprisingly, a significant chunk of the state’s $30 billion current and planned investments cluster around non-major ports. Investments in Hazira are pegged at Rs 16,000 crore, Varga expects Rs 15,000 crore while Jamnagar and Pipavav are slated to see Rs 20,000 crore pouring in.

Gujarat’s aggressiveness in promoting shipping is mirrored by that of Maharashtra’s. The latter’s maritime board has greenfield port projects underway at Dighi and Rewas Aware, whereas five other sites have also been identified for development. Experts say that the overall bullish growth in non-major ports is a natural outcome of strained capacities at major ones, resulting in increased berthing time of cargo. “The major ports are a legacy of the past,” said Asian Institute of Transport Development director K L Thapar. “With economic activity mushrooming across locales, they face geographic limitations. Upcoming non-major ports are captive ones to cater to specific companies.”

With marine activities like fishery development at the take-off stage, “The ocean is going to be the reservoir of future exploitation of minerals and non-major ports would be best equipped to handle this,” Thapar said.

States get into the act

• Non-major ports aggressively pursued in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka

... contd.