Panaji: The Centre in a joint venture with the Goa government is planning to have a satellite port, about 35 kms from Mormugao Port Trust, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
“Existing Goa port in Panaji has lot of constraints. Due to this the existing port cannot be developed further,” he told reporters here.
“The Centre in a joint venture with the Goa government is planning to have a satellite port which will be 35 kilometres away from Mormugao Port Trust in Balli village of South Goa,” the Minister said.
The satellite port will have the capacity to handle 50 lakh ton bauxite and ten lakh tonne of iron ore per year, he said.
“The bauxite would be transported by conveyor belt and iron ore by road, the minister added.
He informed the proposal regarding the satellite port was today submitted to Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
“The Chief Minister has said (that) he is keen on this project. He will take the proposal before the State Cabinet and take opinion of the people,” Gadkari said.
“Approximately 200 acres of land is required for the project of which 75 acres of government land is already available (and the) rest will have to be acquired,” he said.
PTI