The Hindu Business Line : Sagar Mala to strengthen cargo infrastructure

THE implementation of the Rs 1 lakh-crore Sagar Mala project will give a significant boost to the existing cargo-handling infrastructure of major ports in South India.

The project envisages, apart from developing inland waterways, coastal shipping and new ports, revamping of the existing ports by deepening the draft, improving hinterland connectivity and upgrading cargo-handling equipment through a higher level of private participation to meet the needs of increased global inflow of traffic.

The Visakhapatnam port, which is at present India's premier port in terms of throughput handled, has lined up some important schemes under the Sagar Mala project. These include deepening the inner harbour entrance channel and strengthening the east quay berths to accommodate Panamax vessels up to 228 m LOA, apart from additional facilities for handling iron ore.

The Chennai port, one of the biggest ports in the country with 24 alongside berths in three docks, is also expected to get a major boost, with major projects such as setting up a car-carrier terminal, cruise terminal and additional pipeline facilities to increase its liquid bulk cargo throughput. Its neighbour, the Ennore port, is likely to be a bigger beneficiary, especially with the Sagar Mala project envisaging establishment of a new container terminal and two maritime universities.

However, port observers feel the port that will face the quickest development will be Cochin port, as the very first stage of the project involves modernisation and expansion of the port, along with the Jawaharlal Nehru port, with an estimated outlay of Rs 7,500 crore. The port will get an additional bunkering terminal, LNG and cruise-liner terminals under the project.

The Sethusamudram ship canal project, proposed to promote cruise tourism, is a major one in the Sagar Mala programme. And Tuticorin port, which has access to both coasts besides main sea routes located in the south of Sri Lanka, has a string of natural advantages that may justify the location of the proposed hub port there. The New Mangalore port, which is well equipped to handle bulk, liquid chemicals, hazardous cargoes and crude/POL products, has put up on its drawing board construction of an additional oil jetty for crude/POL products and procurement of additional equipment, navigational facilities, new general cargo berths and a multi-user petroleum handling jetty.

With the Indian port sector having attracted the attention of global players, as was evident by the response to the JNPT's tender for the third container terminal, port analysts feel that these port projects will get access to private participation to a greater extent, as planned in the Sagar Mala programme.