Port capacity to double in 5 yrs: Plan Comm

The capacity of Indian ports will have to nearly double to 2,302 million tonnes (MT) over the next five years to be able to handle the fast growing cargo traffic, the Planning Commission has said.

"To meet the overall projected traffic of 1,758.26 MT by 2016-17, the total capacity of the port sector is envisaged to be 2,301.63 MT," the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) document has said.

"The traffic forecast by the end of the 12th Plan would be 943.06 MT and 815.20 MT for the major and non-major ports respectively with corresponding port capacities of 1,241.83 MT and 1,059.80 MT respectively," it added.

Total capacity of the country's ports, including 12 major and over 200 non-majors, stood at 1,247.45 MT in 2011-12 and together they handled 971 MT cargo. Major ports had the lion's share at 601 MT and the rest was done by the non-major ports.

The Plan Panel expects Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to have the maximum capacity at 155.61 MT by 2016-17 followed by Kandla Port at 145.13 MT.

Almost 95 percent by volume, and 70 percent by value of India's global merchandise trade is carried through the sea route. Of 12 major ports, 11 are administered by respective Port Trusts and Ennore Port, the 12th major port, which in February 2011 started functioning, is coporatised.

The projected traffic and capacity for the major ports in 11th Plan Period was 708.09 MT and 1,016.25 MT respectively.

For non-major ports, the capacity was envisaged to grow to 575 MT from 228.31 in 2006-07. However, actual capacity in the non-major ports grew to 544.65 MT by 2011-12.

The document said the average turnaround time of ships at the ports is higher caused by delays due to port-related inefficiency.

"A time-bound plan should be made so that by the end of the 12th Plan, the turnaround time matches with most efficient ports. This action plan must be designed and put in place quickly," it added.