The Maharashtra state government has given approval to its comprehensive Maharashtra Port Development Policy for creating better facilities around 720 km coastal region of the state.
A decision to constitute the Maharashtra Port Connectivity Corporation has been taken for development of ports and related projects.
The New Port Development Policy 2015 has been planned to synchronise with ‘Make in Maharashtra’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business’ policies.
Policy covers greenfield ports, jetties, coastal shipping and inland waterways, shipyards, coastal economic zones and facilitation for maritime projects. The state government has announced sops including concession on VAT, stamp duty, electricity duty, port tax and tariff.
“The policy is aimed at starting maritime development and supporting industrial activity, with emphasis on port-related development. The policy will make Maharashtra an import-export hub by development in water transport, shipping industry and port connectivity with roads and railways,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote on Twitter.
The policy is expected to make Maharashtra Maritime Board’s role more industry-oriented to boost the development of ports. Maharashtra has a 720-km coastline with two big ports, and 48 small ports.
Under the major reforms the the state has made the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) will be the sole special planning authority for land designated under ports. MMB will create a development plan for the areas under ports and also other allied industries that rely on ports.
Gautam Chatterjee, Principal Secretary, Ports, said the policy covers all aspects of port and shipping, including multi-purpose jetties and captive jetties, ship building, ship repair and thing related to Ro-Ro Services.
The policy also envisages setting up shipbuilding parks. The Maharashtra Maritime Board will select the land and carry out the land acquisition process. “Industrial groups will be given these plots on a 10-year lease, and if required the lease period will be extended by another 10 years,” the official said.