Mundra port city to take tips from world’s great maritime cities

“The concept plan for the Mundra port has been submitted to the government and a final approval is awaited,” Pankaj Kumar,CEO and vice-chairman of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB),told The Indian Express.

The project plan also draws heavily on the existing port cities in India,including Mumbai,Surat,Visakhapatnam and Chennai.

Preliminary environment assessment has also been completed for this project which will be developed in three phases,each spanning over a decade. The port city,expected to be complete only by 2041,will sprawl over 500 square kilometres and will encompass 33 villages of the Kutch district. About 25% of the area has been earmarked for residential development while a similar quantum has been reserved for industries.

The port city is expected to require an investment of over Rs 6,000 crore in initial stages for creation of basic infrastructure to support key maritime and related industries and services.

Kumar said the consultants who assisted in developing the concept plan for the project would also help GMB in preparing town-planning schemes and zoning of the areas within the city.

Besides the core areas of fisheries,horticulture and agriculture,Mundra port city also envisages the development of industrial sectors like light engineering,iron and steel,food and agro processing and textile industries.

The state government is also planning a second port city near Pipavav port in Bhavnagar district.