The proposed new maritime policy to remain valid for a decade would focus on key areas of development in the Indian shipping sector  In a bid to boost the country’s maritime sector, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) plans to introduce a new maritime policy, which would replace the existing National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) set to expire in 2012. In all likelihood, the policy would be introduced next month and would remain valid for a period of 10 years starting 2010. Speaking on this MoS initiative, Praveen Agarwal, chairman of Mormugao Port Trust said, “The new maritime policy would be a boon for the shipping sector as it will inform the shipping fraternity about the government’s approach towards the sector’s development. It will also attract greater number of private investment into the sector that would subsequently provide a fillip to the sector.”Industry insiders also feel that framing of the new policy at this juncture is of utmost importance keeping in mind the traffic target set to be achieved in the coming years. According to MoS data, traffic target set to be achieved in 2010-11 is 600.78 million tonnes (mt) as compared to 560.98 mt recorded in 2009-10.
Interestingly, the performance audit of the major port trusts tabled in the parliament in March 2010 by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India stated that although a whopping amount of money has been earmarked for port and berth development programme under NMDP, both cargo handling services and dredging projects at the major ports remain inefficient.
Key development areas
The new maritime policy would focus on areas such as capacity expansion of ports, dredging mechanisation, modernisation plans of major and non-major ports and port connectivity, among others. Due attention would also be accorded to coastal shipping, holding immense significance for the Indian shipping sector. “Coastal shipping is one of the most important sources of revenue for the Indian shipping fraternity as it offers multi-modal transportation facilities by combining rail and sea. It is a valuable asset during times of emergency. So, it a welcome move that the new maritime policy would focus on coastal shipping,” comments Rajdeepak Bhargava, CMD of Avignon Shipping Company, a mid-sized shipping firm in Pune.
Meanwhile, a core working group and a sub-group have been constituted to prepare the proposed maritime policy, which would specify the number of new ports to be constructed under public-private partnership model.
Arup Choudhury |
