Arun Jaitley chaired body to look into stalled Rs 20K crore port projects

A high-powered committee chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will look into the issues plaguing stuck shipping projects worth up to Rs 20,000 crore, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said. About 12 shipping projects, including in Kandla and Visakhapatnam ports, have been stuck for long on account of various problems that include contractors abandoning the same. The decision to form the high-level committee was taken in today’s Cabinet meeting, Shipping Minister Gadkari said. “A committee will be formed … There are 11-12 projects in the shipping sector, which are stuck for long. The committee will decide on such projects,” Gadkari said. He said the projects entail an estimated investment of Rs 10,000-20,0000 crore. The committee, headed by Jaitley, will comprise the law minister, shipping minister and a Niti Aayog representative. Gadkari said a meeting in this regard has been scheduled for next week.