Gadkari endorses IT for better efficiency, speed and delivery of port operations

Nov 10, 2016: Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that the efficiency of Indian ports has improved significantly over the last two years and the performance of government ports in the country has been better than private ports this year. He said the Ministry has taken various steps to improve the efficiency of ports. Old rules have been weeded out, port mechanization and modernization is being done on war footing and projects for improving connectivity of ports are being implemented in right earnest. He further stressed upon the importance of e governance for ensuring good governance.

The Minister released a report titled “Next Generation Port Infrastructure - Technology Transformation for Integrated Port Operations” in New Delhi. The report contains recommendations of a task force constituted by the ministry to prepare a robust Information Technology (IT) transformation document for them, clearly defining a long-term strategic roadmap and implementation plans.

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari called upon port authorities to catch up with the new trends in port strategies that are emerging around the world. He also expressed hope that the recommendations of the Task Force would pave the way for modernizing the port systems for better efficiency, speed and delivery.

The main focus of the IT task force has been to provide a structure for developing and implementing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies in India. The report notes that there are many developed countries in today’s world whose applications of ITS technologies for solving transportation problems have reached a fairly advanced level. In India the development of such ITS solutions is at a fairly nascent stage.

The task force has studied the as-is situation with regard to ITS technologies being used in the port sector in India and highlights the ongoing issues in this sector. The task force has also focussed on ITS technologies that are developed and implemented by the ports in Singapore and Rotterdam- two of the leading ports that have used technology as an enabler for port operations. Some of the major recommendations of the task force include:

• Creation of an ITS department, development of ITS architecture, standards and protocols that will help in structuring investments in transportation and delivering safe and effective transportation.

• Smart Ports, which would help usher in optimization of space, personnel and traffic.

• Single Window System, which would help in reducing transaction costs and logistics costs involved in the movement of cargo.

• Technology implementation at the gates for processing that will help reduce the delay in receiving and dropping of cargo.

• Setting up an innovation / R&D fund to help drive innovation and an ecosystem for the maritime sector in India.

• Standardization of messages, protocols, standards and processes which will help in operational efficiency and increase productivity parameters of ports operations.