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The Shipping Ministry is planning to float tenders by March, for the development of three greenfield ports in the country.
Out of the three, it is most positive about Wadhwan port near Mumbai, as it does not require any major land acquisition.
It would be developed on 5,000 acres of reclaimed land and serve as a satellite port to the main Jawaharlal Nehru Port. About ₹10,000 crore of investment would require in the first phase. In June 2015, an MoU was signed between Maharashtra Maritime Board and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for the port development.
Land acquisitionA senior Shipping Ministry official told BusinessLine that along with Wadhwan, Sagar port in West Bengal and Colachel in Tamil Nadu would be developed.
Sagar port requires land acquisition but due to the attitude of the State government, the process is expected to be delayed. About 5,000 acres would be also be required for Colachel port, but the site will require more investment in terms of road and rail connectivity, the official said.
The official pointed that Wadhwan has a fairly well-developed road and rail connectivity. It is closer to Mumbai, which is a major export and import area.
The multi-cargo port will decongest the Jawaharlal Nehru Port. It would be constructed at a distance of more than four nautical miles off Dahanu coast, near Wadhwan point. More land is being reclaimed at Wadhwan, as in the future it could also be used for some port-based industries.
Stake for state govtsIn all the three port projects, the local governments would be given 26 per cent stake, which they could be held through maritime boards or other State Government controlled bodies. Incorporating State governments in large projects is mandatory under Modi administration, the official said.
The official added that the Wadhwan port has been facing opposition from local residents and activist over environmental concerns.
Therefore, the land reclamation has been designed in such a manner that it manages to steer clear of all local interferences and authorities.
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