The Indian government is set to change its laws governing many of its 12 major nationalised ports by making port management more independent and professional in order to boost profits at the big 12, according to Reuters.
It was previously reported that India’s big 12 had so far seen revenue increases of more than 8%, and the government is now looking to boost the port sector.
Nitin Gadkari, Shipping Minister for India, said: “When we tried to implement corporatisation of ports, the trade unions raised objections. Some political parties tried to make mileage out of it, disregarding national interest and development.
“We have decided that instead of making them corporate bodies, we will change existing laws, and see what else we can do in other areas to improve efficiency.”
Gadkari’s administration is aiming to reduce the turnaround times of ships at Indian ports from four to two days in line with international standards.