The Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands are set to become the thirteenth major port in the country as the government is planning to categorise Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works (ALHW) as a major port trust so that it can take decisions independently and expedite capacity addition in the islands.
ALHW currently operates as a department of the shipping ministry and has to take its approval for every work. ?We want to ensure that it takes faster decisions and as an enabling measure, we are considering tagging Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works as major ports,? a senior government official told FE. ?The matter is likely to be discussed by the Cabinet soon,? he added.
If the Cabinet approves the proposal, ALHW will be the 13th major port trust in the country and will be in-charge of handling cargo shipped to and from Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
Announcement of ALHW as a major port will also help the government speed up the pace of port capacity addition under its National Maritime Development Programme, which seeks to increase the cargo-handling strength of major ports to more than 1,000 million tonne from under 600 million tonne at present.
ALHW was set up in October 1965 to create and maintain port and harbour facilities at the group of islands. The department has created artificial harbours at Hut Bay of Little Andaman, Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar and Rangat Bay of Middle Andaman by construction of Rubble Mound Breakwaters with jetties and allied facilities.
It has also set up a slipway complex at Port Blair for repairs of Inter Island ships and other ferry boats. The department has created jetties in all the 10 inhabited islands in Lakshadweep.
ALHW is pegged to take on development works costing nearly Rs 550 crore in the future. It has more than 1,200 employees of which 832 are placed in Andaman & Nicobar islands and the balance in Lakshadweep.
There are 12 major ports and 187 minor ports, regulated by state governments, in the country.