Rajya Sabha passes Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 giving greater autonomy to major ports in country.

Rajya Sabha passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 today. The Bill was put to Division Voting wherein 84 members supported the bill and 44 voted against it.

The bill seeks to provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in the country and provide greater autonomy to these ports. It seeks to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The legislation provides for the creation of a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port. These Boards will replace the existing Port Trusts.

Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya while replying after the discussion on the bill said that it will make the major ports in the country more autonomous and provide major thrust in the maritime sector. He said, the bill will help the ports develop world class infrastructure and will also enhance transparency in their functioning. He stressed that the development of ports will pave way for port led development as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Allaying apprehensions raised by opposition members, Mr. Mandaviya informed that the bill does not in any way privatise the ports in the country. He asserted that it empowers the ports by making them more competitive when compared to private ports.

The Shipping Minister stressed that the NDA government will never allow privatisation of Ports in the country. He said the Maritime sector has seen a trajectory of growth in the last six years. Mr. Mandaviya informed that the major ports in the country have recorded double the profit from its figures in the previous regime. (Source: newsonair)