Dr A V Ramana, Chairman of the Additional Mangalore Port Authority, announced that three new projects worth Rs 695 crores will be implemented under PM Gati Shakti. Mechanization of Berth No.14 for handling container and other cargos on a DBFOT basis in partnership with JSW, construction of new Berth No.17 for handling bulk and dry-bulk cargos at Rs 217 crores, and development of fishing harbour at Kulai at Rs 197 crores are among the projects.
The PM Gati Shakti, a National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, was released in October 2021 at a cost of Rs 100 lakh crores with the goal of developing infrastructure while lowering logistics costs and boosting the economy. This includes 16 various ministries such as shipping, waterways, railways, roadways and so on for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
Dr. A V Ramana, speaking at a press conference here, said that the PM Gati Shakti combines infrastructure schemes from various Ministries and State Governments, including Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Inland Waterways, Dry/Land Ports, UDAN, textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, and agri-zones. He also stated that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has identified 101 projects to improve port connectivity with consumption and production centres as part of the National Master Plan.
In addition, he mentioned that 111 waterways in 24 states around the country have been designated as National Waterways.
“Due to semi-mechanized handling of containers, there was tremendous need for the augmentation of the port capacity in handling containers. Mechanized handling of containers at Berth No. 14 will satisfy this and boot the economy of Karnataka’s hinterlands,” he