Galathea Bay is Notified as a 'Major Port'
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Galathea Bay is Notified as a ‘Major Port’

Context:

Recently, the Central government has notified the international trans-shipment hub at Galathea Bay in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a ‘Major Port’.

Galathea Bay Port

  • It is to be developed as an International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP).
  • The port is envisaged to be developed in four phases with Phase 1 is proposed to be commissioned in the year 2028 with a handling capacity of around 4 Million TEUs (1 TEU=twenty-foot equivalent unit), increasing to 16 Million TEUs in the ultimate stage of development by 2058.
  • The proposed Rs 44,000 crore mega project is officially under the administrative control of the Union ports, shipping, and waterways ministry.
  • It is now eligible for central funding and will be developed under the public-private partnership model.

Significance of the project

  • It is a huge advantage to EXIM trade as it lies on the International shipping route. 
  • Currently, nearly 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is handled at ports outside India.
  • The port will increase significant benefits such as forex savings, foreign direct investment, increased economic activity at other Indian Ports, and enhanced logistics infrastructure. 
  • This project will help capture a large share of transshipped cargo which is handled at ports outside India.
  • The development of this Mega Container Terminal is a part of the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island. 

Ports in India

  • Ports are classified as Major and Minor Ports according to the jurisdiction of the Central and State governments as defined under the Indian Ports Act, of 1908. 
  • Major Ports (12) are owned and managed by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. (Central Government) and Minor ports/Nonmajor (200) are owned and managed by the State Governments.
  • There are 12 Major Ports: – Chennai, Cochin, Deendayal (Kandla), Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva), Kolkata, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, V. O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin), Visakhapatnam, and Kamarajar Port Limited.

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