Major investment in Gujarat ports planned

Gujarat's port sector is expected to attract more than 110,000 crore investments during the two-day, biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS) starting Wednesday. Adani Group, Essar, GVK, Shaporji Pallonji, L&T and GSPC are the top companies to develop projects that include greenfield ports, maritime city, mid-sea refuelling, commodity specific jetties and terminals apart from expansion of existing capacities, a state government official said. Adani group will invest 18,000 crore for developing a south port and a north port near Mundra through its subsidiary Mundra Port and SEZ. It will also be coming up with a single point mooring facility at Mundra and bulk cargo terminal at Hazira in south Gujarat. Infrastructure company GVK has proposed a maritime city with an investment of 7,000 crore. The companies will also plan to set up greenfield port projects. Sterling group will invest 6,000 crore for a port at its special economic zone while Mumbai-based Shapoorji Pallonji will set up a similar facility at Chhara near Junagarh. L&T will pump in 5,500 crore at Kutchigarh for a greenfield port. Universal Success Enterprise will bring in 5,000 crore for a port at Bhogat near Okha in Saurashtra. Gujarat Pipavav Port, the first private port in the state, has expansion plans worth 1,700 crore. Lanco Infratech will set up a terminal with an investment of 1,700 crore. GSPC will infuse 4,000 crore for a LNG terminal. The PSU will handle this project in partnership with state department of port and transport. Also on the agenda of the authorities is setting up of Marine Ship Building Park (MSP) at five different locations, mostly near Bhavnagar and Dahej. Under project expansion, ABG Shipyard will set up a marine ship-building park at Suva village near Bhavnagar incurring an investment of 2,500 crore. Similarly, Dahej Offshore will invest 1,000 crore and Bhavnagar-based Modest Infrastructure will infuse 800 crore. Bajaj Hindusthan has proposed a sugar jetty with an investment of 800 crore. Mazgaon Dock, GMR Group, ONGC and Reliance Industries have plans to set up coal terminals. Container Corporation too will set up a logistics park. Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum will set up bunkering facilities to enable ships to refuel without having to dock at the port. Anupam Industries will invest 300 crore in Over Dimensional Cargo Movement projects, which are part of ‘Roll On Roll Over’ service meant to transport machinery through sea route instead of the roads or railways. Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute and Gujarat Maritime Board will have projects for environment-friendly functioning of the ports. It will involve reuse of waste and make use of solar energy. An investment of 60 crore is expected in the state.