<p>The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to Major Ports Authority bill, which is aimed at giving greater autonomy to major ports to manage their affairs.</p>.<p>The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports.</p>.<p>All port trusts will have a corporate-type management structure and will be free to fix the port charges, Union Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya told reporters here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The bill will also simplify the regulatory and administrative mechanism of the ports, fixing of port charges or tariffs, a benchmark of minimum quality standards and facilities in every new port, said the official.</p>.<p>The proposed legislation will replace a 1963 law governing the country's 12 major ports.</p>.<p>"At present, the ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. The Cabinet today (Wednesday) has approved the Major Ports Authority Bill that will be introduced in Parliament and replace the existing law," the minister said. </p>.<p>India has 12 major ports— Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).</p>
<p>The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to Major Ports Authority bill, which is aimed at giving greater autonomy to major ports to manage their affairs.</p>.<p>The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports.</p>.<p>All port trusts will have a corporate-type management structure and will be free to fix the port charges, Union Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya told reporters here on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The bill will also simplify the regulatory and administrative mechanism of the ports, fixing of port charges or tariffs, a benchmark of minimum quality standards and facilities in every new port, said the official.</p>.<p>The proposed legislation will replace a 1963 law governing the country's 12 major ports.</p>.<p>"At present, the ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. The Cabinet today (Wednesday) has approved the Major Ports Authority Bill that will be introduced in Parliament and replace the existing law," the minister said. </p>.<p>India has 12 major ports— Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).</p>
