Industry players suggested the government to pay renewed attention to the issues facing port sector in India.

   

Some of the issues facing the sector are lack of clarity on land acquisition policy in an around port area, implementation delays in public private partnership (PPP) projects and faulty tariff structure governing major ports.

   

Besides the above, global economic slowdown, environmental clearance, fixation of tariff rates, role of regulator, high expectation of revenue share from major ports are other factors that contribute to the lack of enthusiasm for developers to be attracted to major Ports.

   

Industry players call for a definitive push for infrastructure development which includes facilitating seamless logistics through road and rail connectivity to the cargo handling and distribution centres.

   

They want the government to facilitate development of modernised ports and supporting facilities.

   

It may be noted that non major ports are outpacing major ports in terms of growth. This is due to aggressive approach of the private operators and constrains in major ports.

   Some industry players feel that most of the private-public-partnership model of investment in the recent past in port sector is meeting lukewarm response from the bidders.