The Ministry of Shipping is planning to increase the port capacity by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan to 2,493.10 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA), with major ports (owned by Government under the Ministry of Shipping) accounting for about 50% of this capacity.

In 2013-14, 30 projects will be added involving an additional capacity of 282 MTPA, with an investment of Rs 24,959 crore. As on 30 September, 2013, 13 of these projects have already been awarded entailing an investment of Rs 3,831.30 crore and an additional capacity of 80.85 MTPA.

In a year end review report for 2013, the Ministry said that the capacity of Indian Ports was 1,245.30 MTPA at the end of 11th Plan period.

During the fiscal, the Ministry said it has been focusing on new capacity augmentation projects and mechanisation projects apart from capital dredging projects. To achieve the 12th Plan targets for capacity augmentation, the work on two new Major Ports, one at Sagar Island in West Bengal and the other at Durgarajpatnam in Andhra Pradesh are in progress. These two Ports will add additional capacity of around 100 MTPA, said the Ministry.

On the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Sector, which is being regulated by the Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry said this sector will be pushed during the 12th Plan.

So far, five waterways have been declared as National Waterways. In addition, Barak River from Lakhipur in Manipur to Bhanga in Assam (121 km) is proposed to be declared as the sixth National Waterway.

During 2013-14, Transportation of 3 MTPA of imported coal for 7 years from Haldia (Sandheads) to NTPC’s power plant at Farakka through National Waterway 1 commenced in November, 2013.