Gujarat identifies new port sites
The government of the Indian state of Gujarat has identified Cambay,Mahuva and Sutrapada as new port development sites, as throughput at existing local ports grew by 11.2% to 108m tonnes in 2005-06.
Gujarat Maritime Board wants to set up a special purpose vehicle to undertake dredging activities at the new sites at an estimated cost of $256m.It has also invited expressions of interest from potential private-sector partners.
The biggest of the three planned new ports will be at Sutrapada, where $156m is required to build container and dry bulk handling facilities. There will be four 350 metre long berths and alongside water depth of 13 metres. At Mahuva, a deep water facility will be developed at the cost of $67m. Finally, at Cambay, one of the oldest ports in India, dredging costing $33m will enable previously silted up facilities to be reopened.