"Developing JNP as a hub port would cost Rs 600 crore for deepening the approach channel and an additional 10-12 per cent of the amount for annual maintenance," Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) deputy chairman Kishore G Apte told PTI.

A proposal to this effect has been sent to the ministry of surface transport for approval and a decision on the issue was likely by October, he said.

Deeper navigational facilities would entail deepening of the approach channel to 13.5 metres which would help it attract fourth and fifth generation container ships, he said, adding the work was likely to be completed within 2-3 years.

Now, the channel draft is 10.9 metres and the quayside draft 13.5 metres. This enables the port to handle only third generation container ships.The projections were based on a feasibility study done by Tokyo-based Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which had suggested deepening of the 18 km-long channel to attract bigger mother vessels, he said.

"Once we have the capability of handling fourth and fifth generation mother vessels, Indian exporters and importers will not have to tranship their consignment through other countries," Apte said. Stating that 85 per cent of containers traffic from India was presently being diverted to other countries like Colomobo, Singapore and Dubai, he said measures would be taken to attract traffic at India's hub port. JNPT was also considering feasibility of dredging only half the width of the channel which would bring down the projected cost by over 35 per cent, Apte said.

"However this would mean only one-way movement of vessels and we are still examining the feasibility of the issue," he said. The port has planned capacity addition of 15.3 million tonnes during the 9th five year plan period to handle the additional traffic arriving at the transhipment hub, he said.

Out of this, 7.80 million tonnes of container berth has already been commissioned on BOT basis, Apte said. Other projects planned are the 1.20 million tonne feeder berth and 5.50 million tonne liquid cargo berth, he said, adding a 15 million tonne marine chemical terminal would be commissioned during the 10th plan period.

Besides, the port has provisioned Rs 66.60 crore for modernisation of equipment during the current year, he said.

The port has also planned to construct a shallow draught berth for general cargo with a designed draft of 9.5 meters and a capacity of handling about 1.2 mt of cargo, Apte said.

The port has earmarked Rs 480 crore for development of infrastructure facilities for B&C grade chemicals in the tank farm area, additional port crafts (three tugs and two pilot launches), infrastructure facilities for vehicle exporters, warehouses for storage of dry bulk cargo, cold storage facilities and container stacking yard, he said.

JNPT was also seriously looking at the possibility of building additional berths for handling agri-products, ores, vehicles, steel scrap and sponge iron and the feasibility studies for these developments were underway. JNPT has shown impressive growth with a record 27 per cent growth rate during the last fiscal, while its neighbour Mumbai port witnessed a negative growth of -1.55 per cent.