Jul 31, 2013
MUMBAI: Union minister for shipping G K Vasan announced new tariff guidelines for major port projects in Mumbai Wednesday. The ministry claims the simplified procedures will increased investment flows into the sector.
Various stakeholders had complained that the existing tariff authority for major ports' regulations was detrimental to growth. There was no level playing field between major ports and non-major ports. The new tariff guidelines will not cover projects that have already been awarded.
The tariff authority for major ports (TAMP) will first set the reference tariff (RT) for a particular commodity at a major port. This will typically be the highest prevailing rate that was set along 2008 guidelines. If that commodity is not handled at that port, the highest tariff at the nearest major port will be used as RT.
RT will be applicable for five years and will be indexed to inflation up to 60 of wholesale price index. TAMP will notify performance standards of facilities and services offered at the port project. Both RT and performance standards will be mentioned in the bid document and bids will be evaluated on the basis of RT.
Indexed reference tariff will be the ceiling tariff in the first year of operation though the operator can propose a higher tariff from the second year subject to a cap of 15%. Upward revision will be allowed once in the financial year.
The ministry has set an ambitious target to award 30 port projects during 2013-14 which will add 288 million tons per annum (MTPA) with an investment of approximately Rs 25,000 crore. This includes the Rs 8,000 crore big-ticket project of the fourth container terminal at JNPT in Navi Mumbai.
Source:-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment