NEW DELHI: Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Government is going ahead with the port modernisation programme and his Ministry will seek Cabinet nod on the same as it tries to tackle the opposition to corporatisation of Ports.
"We will give more power to Port Chairman and the Board by which I feel that we will achieve corporatisation," Gadkari said.
"We have already received a report from expert committee by which we can change existing law to implement modernisation of Ports, increase their efficiency and to make our decision making process fast”.
The Minister added that the report from the expert committee is ready and they will approach the Cabinet for approval.
When asked if the Government had dropped its earlier plan of corporatisation the Ports, he said, "We are going to submit it to the Cabinet. After approval we will implement. Corporatisation is not ruled out but it is to be declared by the Finance Minister. It is on the agenda."
He said the Government is amending the Major Ports Act but it would be ensured that the interest of workers is not compromised.
During the Budget for this fiscal, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the Government will encourage the 12 Major Ports run by the Government to get corporatised.
