Cabinet nod to Major Ports Authority Bill to replace existing law

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to Major Ports Authority bill, which is aimed at giving greater autonomy to major ports to manage their affairs.

The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports.

All port trusts will have a corporate-type management structure and will be free to fix the port charges, Union Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya told reporters here on Wednesday.

The bill will also simplify the regulatory and administrative mechanism of the ports, fixing of port charges or tariffs, a benchmark of minimum quality standards and facilities in every new port, said the official.

The proposed legislation will replace a 1963 law governing the country's 12 major ports.

"At present, the ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. The Cabinet today (Wednesday) has approved the Major Ports Authority Bill that will be introduced in Parliament and replace the existing law," the minister said.

India has 12 major ports— Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).