
NEW DELHI, JUNE 23: The Maritime State Development Council MSDC today gave in-principle approval to create a port infrastructure development fund by levying cess on cargo handling charges.
quot;It has been found that lack of infrastructure like rail and road links acted as a bottleneck for development of ports and council gave its in-principle approval for creating the fundquot;, surface transport minister Nitish Kumar told reporters here after the second meeting of MSDC.
The council also decided that the minor ports should be developed in conjunction with the major ports to avoid creation of over capacity and maximise the limited natural resources.
A quot;vision-2020quot; report prepared by Rail India Technical and Engineering Services RITES was also discussed by the council, which is an advisory body set up to ensure integrated development of major and minor ports.
It was also decided that a sub-group under surface transport secretary would be formed to refine the recommendations of rites and modify the report appropriately.