In what could be termed as a major development, the number of major ports in the country is likely to go up from 12 to 13 with the Union Ministry of Shipping’s (MoS) decision to table a proposal to the Cabinet next week for granting Andaman and Nicobar port the status of a major port. An MoS official, who did not wish to be named, said that one of the major reasons for MoS to put forward this proposal is the strategic and commercial importance that the port holds within the country. It is to be noted that the port lies close to two important shipping lines namely - Saudi Arabia-Singapore and US-Singapore.



In this context, S Nageshwar Rao, managing director of Raghavendra Shipping Services, a mid-sized shipping firm in Vishakhapatnam, says, “It is indeed a great idea to upgrade Andaman and Nicobar port as a major port because the same will boost the maritime trade of the region and in turn contribute to economic growth of the country.”

Major port status to boost port capacity

Experts are of the opinion that after Andaman and Nicobar port is granted the status of a major port, it will aid the Union government’s plan to enhance cargo handling capacity of major ports under the ambitious National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP). “The same will ensure that logistics operators operating in these parts of the region get more consignments. This will help them to expand their business as well as channels of revenues,” says Ramesh Kumar, manager of VRL Logistics, a mid-sized logistics firm in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, MoS has also revealed its plans to turn Lakshadweep into a major port too. However, this proposal will take a while to be taken to the Cabinet as Lakshadweep authorities are yet to furnish the required information to MoS.