By March 2013, union shipping ministry expects to award all the 42 port projects targeted during 2012-13, Minister for Shipping GK Vasan informed reporters.

Speaking to media persons, Vasan said most of these projects are for capacity addition, deepening of channels and modernisation. These 42 projects, which entail an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, would raise cargo handling capacity by about 250 million tonne a year (mn tpa).

He also informed that about 17 projects have already been awarded and rest will be awarded By March this year. The minister was speaking to mediapersons after the two-day Maritime States Development Council meeting in the city.

According to the minister, new ports will have to be set up across the coastline and the ministry asked the Chief Ministers of all the maritime states to explore possibilities of setting up new ports.

Vasan said his ministry has approved establishment of two new ports – one on the Sagar island of West Bengal and another in Andhra Pradesh.

He, meanwhile, informed that his ministry has shelved the Port Regulatory Bill because of reservations expressed by some states.

PK Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping informed that this year the government set an ambitious target of awarding contracts for 42 port projects against the normal 6-7 projects that were awarded every year for the past decade.