Shipping ministry to tackle issues bogging PPP projects

October 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prolonged delays in acquiring land for industrial projects could endanger potential investments worth $100 billion in India, according to an industry lobby report. "Delays in land acquisition procedures for industrial projects are threatening to endanger investments worth $100 billion all over the country in near term," said the report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

October 1st, 2009 PANAJI - Casino Royale, Goa's biggest offshore casino, is technically "inferior" and "unfit" to carry 888 passengers as per a certificate issued by the Union of Comoros, says the union shipping ministry. In a written submission to the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court, Deputy Director General of Shipping (Technical) Captain K.P.

September 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday hit out at the shipping ministry's move to offload government stake in the Cochin shipyard, and said it will raise the issue in the shipping consultative committee of parliament. "I have conveyed my displeasure to Shipping Minister G.K.

September 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The shipping ministry has approved the Department of Economic Affairs' proposal to divest government state in Cochin shipyard, Shipping Secretary A.P.V.N. Sarma said here Tuesday.

August 12th, 2009 Paragon Shipping to pay 5-cent dividendParagon Shipping said on Tuesday it would pay a quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share on Sept. 7. The Athens, Greece-based shipper said the dividend would go to shareholders of record on Aug.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Bidders for infrastructure projects in the shipping sector need to have a minimum net worth that is twice the project cost, the government said Monday. "Since BOT (build, operate and transfer) projects require the concessionaire to make the investment required for the project, it was suggested that threshold be increased to twice the project cost," Shipping Minister G.K.

July 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - More public-private partnership (PPP) projects for building ports, revised guidelines for port operations, and speedier acquisition of ships and equipment are some of the targets set by the shipping ministry in its 100-day agenda unveiled Wednesday. Five more PPP projects are likely to be awarded, including coal terminals at Paradip and Mormugao ports and container terminals at Ennore and Tuticorin, according to the agenda released by Shipping Minister G.K.

June 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Tuesday said it will invest a huge fund for building and revamping road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states. The ministry of road transport and highways, while releasing its 100-day agenda, said it has earmarked Rs.13,397.2 crore ($2.8 billion) for road projects in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast.

June 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The ministry of road transport and highways has earmarked Rs.13,397.2 crore for road projects in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states, it said Tuesday while releasing its 100-day agenda. The ministry has also set time lines for 30 projects so that they will be executed on fast track.

June 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - After road transport ministry, it is now the turn of the shipping ministry to demand a separate financing arm. "The ministry has submitted a proposal to the finance ministry to form a Shipping Finance Corp," said a ministry official.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Speedy execution of pending projects, modernisation of stations and improvement of passenger amenities are among the suggestions the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has made to the railways ministry. "Despite marked improvement in the financial position, Indian Railways continue to face issues such as outdated technology, poor state of railway stations, lack of basic passenger amenities, capacity constraints and shortage of funds for investment," the chamber said in a 20-point charter submitted to the ministry.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The railways ministry will carry forward the projects taken up by the former minister, Lalu Prasad, including the ambitious bullet train proposal, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said here Monday.

April 7th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - In a major embarrassment for Chandigarh's Administrator S.F. Rodrigues, the home ministry has ordered a special audit of all infrastructure projects in the union territory (UT), officials said here Tuesday.

March 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - About 40 percent of the country's road projects put up for competitive bidding have found no takers due to the economic slowdown, a Planning Commission member said here Friday. 'Of the 60 road projects that had been put up for competitive bidding, 40 percent received no bids,' Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh said.

February 9th, 2009 KOLKATA - The shipping ministry is preparing a document on the financial requirements of the industry, which will be submitted to the finance ministry next month, a top official said here Tuesday. 'Call it a growth package.