The demand for constitution of Andhra Pradesh State Maritime Board is heard loud and clear with the representatives of the shipping industry deciding to mount pressure on the government for suitable legislation.
The success of Gujarat in wooing investments in port-based projects became the talking point at a recent CEO meeting in the city. Gujarat developed 40 ports from six in just 20 years handling 310 million tonne throughput per annum. On the other hand, AP with Visakhapatnam, the premier major port and non-major ports like Kakinada, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam handle little over 100 million tonne.
The most positive aspect of the board is to facilitate hassle-free decision-making. “Instead of regulatory regime, the industry is looking at facilitation at various levels and packaging of various clearances and works which the port users need,” said Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal Director Vinita Venkatesh.
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Besides Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have such boards. The Ministry of Shipping had on several occasions issued fiat to the undivided AP to set up the board. After division, a fresh exercise has been launched in this regard. “Rake problem and inland connectivity are big hindrances despite huge potential for faster evacuation of cargo. We want route rationalisation, relaxation of Cabotage law and end of Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) for a level playing field,” said Sravan Shipping Services Managing Director G. Sambasiva Rao.
The industry representatives feel that instead of their associations, the State should articulate their viewpoints to end regulatory regime. They want that infrastructure aspects like roads, highways, railway lines and flyovers be considered at the design stage itself while grounding work on Greenfield ports. Lowering tax on bunker fuel to facilitate more carriers calling at AP ports, slew of incentives for coastal shipping and relaxation in procedures for environmental clearances and land acquisition for new port-based projects are some of the issues which they want to be addressed immediately.
State should articulate our viewpoints to end regulatory regime,
say industry representatives