Deepak Shetty, DG, Shipping & Additional Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Shipping, tells Rouhan Sharma that the framework of a hub and spoke model under the Sagar Mala project

In early February 2016, Link Shipping and its partner Symex Maritime Singapore, whom Link Shipping represents in India, created history by pioneering the first movement of cars on a special category Pure-Car-Truck-Carrier (PCTC) vessel, the IDM Symex.

In a candid conversation with Infrastructure Today, I Jeyakumar, Chairman, Mormugao Port Trust, puts forth the challenges faced by ports and his views on the way ahead.

Over the past few years, maritime industry has been the centre of focus for the country´s EXIM trade. Indian ports and shipping play a vital role in sustaining the country´s growth in trade and commerce.

The industry estimates that falling crude oil prices, lower fuel subsidies along with recent diesel tax hikes could together add almost Rs 1.1 trillion to the Union Budget. And with the government planning to spend about $8 billion of that on infrastructure and manufacturing activities, the infrastructure sector is looking at a brighter year ahead.