TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Ports
India has 12 major ports and 200 non major ports. Around 95% of the country’s trade by volume and 68% by value is moved through Maritime Transport. During FY 17, major and non-major ports in India have accomplished a total cargo throughput of 1,133.09 million tonnes, an increase of 5.7 per cent over the previous year. During the same period, the growth in cargo handled at major and nonmajor ports were 6.8 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively. The government has introduced various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for the private sector to develop, maintain and operate ports, inland waterways, and inland ports shipbuilding in India.
Sagarmala Programme
Government has launched the flagship programme for Indian maritime sector, the Sagarmala programme, 415 projects, with an investment requirement of Rs 8 trillion has been identified to implement through Public Private Partnership mode. The components involved are Port Modernization & New Port Development, Port Connectivity Enhancement, Port-Linked Industrialization and Coastal Community development for phase wise implementation over the period 2015 to 2035.
Inland Waterways
India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. The Government is reviving the Inland Waterway system in India, the National Waterway Act has declared 111 rivers or river stretches, creeks, estuaries as National (inland) Waterways. Of this, 32 new national waterways and five existing national waterways are to be developed in the next three years. The government is keen to have private sector participation for the development of IWT terminals, fairways, operation and maintenance of terminals, vessels and navigational aids.
Opportunities India
Over the past few years, investment in the infrastructure sector from the Government has increased despite the rising deficit. Investment requirements over the coming years are planned with a combination of public and private investments, Public Private Partnerships will continue to play a larger role. Policy inititatives like 100% FDI and repatriation of profits have brought in significant amount of interest and investments from the Foreign Investors. India, is a land of opportunties, and Infrastructure sector provides a game changing opportunity to tranform the nation to move up the ladder to World’s largest economy in 2050.
IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited
IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited (“IL&FS Transportation”) was formed in the year 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), which has been a major player in India in Infrastructure development and financing for the last 25 years.
Transportation Infrastructure development was initially taken up in IL&FS and thereafter the transportation vertical IL&FS Transportation was formed wherein the projects undertaken and implemented by IL&FS were domiciled.
IL&FS Transportation has grown into the largest BOT road asset owner in India with approximately 14,000 lane km in its portfolio. It is a market leader in the Transport Infrastructure Sector with presence also in Metro Rail, City Bus Services and Border Check-posts. In addition, IL&FS Transportation have an international footprint covering Africa, Europe, Middle East, North America, China & South East Asia with a portfolio of road assets to around 34,000 lane km.