5 Ports in Karnataka will be developed under PPP mode: Minister of ports

MANGLAORE: Minister of ports Baburao Chinchansur said that private developers have come forward to develop five Minor Ports in the State under the Karnataka State Port Development Policy 2014.

Chinchansur said that the Karnataka State Port Development Policy 2014 has been introduced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the first time in the state. He said that Honnavar, Manki, Mavinakurve Basavaraj Durga Island, Belekeri and Thadadi ports in Uttara Kannada district will be developed under public private partnership (PPP) mode. "While the Government will provide land, private developers will develop Minor Ports and thereby carry out import/ export business. It is a revolutionary step taken by the Government under the new policy," he added.

Land will be leased to a Hyderabad based company to develop Honnavar Port Limited, a commercial port of 5 million ton capacity port at Honnavar, at a cost of Rs 511.30 crore. M/s Renukha Sugars, Belgaum has been given 75,000 square meter land at Manki for the development 2 million ton capacity port at a cost of Rs 46 crore. A plan to develop a captive port at Mavinakurve Basavaraj Durga Island at a cost of Rs 600 crore is in the proposal stage.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has held discussion with M/s Ashraya Limited, private company, to develop Belekeri Port at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Similarly, discussions were held with Adani for the development of Thadadi port at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, the minister said.

The tender process has been started for the phase II Karwar port jetty extension work, which will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore. Similarly, discussions were held to set up a dedicated jetty for a Lakshadweep company at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, Chinchansur said.

Source : dailyshippingtimes.com