New Delhi: Sarbananda Sonowal, union minister of ports, shipping, and waterways, and AYUSH today said that the ministry is focusing on creating a “market enabling environment” for trade.
“Ports are moving towards PPP model wherein the terminals or berths are operated by private operators who have experience in international operations”, Sonowal noted, as per a press handout. The minister described ports as “gateways for international trade.”
Under the holistic development plan for Nicobar Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the ministry has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing an International Container Transhipment Hub at Galathea Bay, he informed. Last month, Sonowal visited the site of the proposed project, with an outlay of Rs 44,000 crores.
During his visit to Andaman, Sonowal had said that Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India, should be seen as a potential tourism destination.
The minister also mentioned that ports in India handled 795 tons of traffic in 2022-23 against 672.68 tons two years earlier (2020-21).
Sonowal informed that the Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under SAGAR SETU – National Logistics Portal (Marine) has been launched by the Ministry. “[It] will now be used to grant permission to ships to enter or leave the ports through this module online which will bring in transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business”, he added.
The minister made these revelations answering an unstarred question at the ongoing winter session of Parliament.
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