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The Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Thiru T.R.Baalu said that to become globally competitive, there is a need to give utmost importance to the development of infrastructure in the country in important sectors including road and shipping sectors. As the public sector alone would not be able to achieve what is required in a timely and competitive manner, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the public-private partnership. While addressing at the Indo-US Summit on ‘Partnership in Building India’s Infrastructure’, which was organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, here today, the Minister said that a huge commitment is required from various organisations in keeping with the spirit of public-private partnership and also in attracting foreign direct investment and technical collaboration.
Highlighting the development in the road sector, Thiru. T.R.Baalu said that till 31st January 2005, 5,418 kms. of national highways have been fourlaned under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-I and II and the remaining length is to completed by December 2007. Under the NHDP Phase I and II, 14,279 kms of national highways are to be 4/6 laned at an estimated cost of Rs. 65,000 crores.
The Minister further said that the Government attaches the highest priority to the development and expansion of physical infrastructure including ports for which public investment in infrastructure will be enhanced, and the role of the private sector will be expanded for creating world-class infrastructure.
In the shipping sector, the Government has taken a new initiative by putting in place the ‘tonnage tax regime’. Indian tonnage was 6.14 million GT on 1st of April 2004. It has now registered an increase of 28 per cent and touched 7.86 million GT on 1st February 2005. The Government is also exploring the possibilities of giving other incentives to the Indian Shipping companies so that they carry a larger percentage of Indian EXIM trade and Indian coastal trade, the Minister added.
Thiru. T. R. Baalu also said that as far as inland water transport is concerned, the Government has already declared three National Waterways and is in the process of declaring three more National Waterways in the country with a view to harness this segment of transport. Efforts to promote private investment in port development has met with some success and 19 projects involving private projects have already started operations. Seventeen projects involving more than Rs.3300 crore of private investment are under consideration, he said.
HCK/BS
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