ASSOCIATION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT OPERATORS OF INDIA

Weekly News 09-11.2016—16.12.2016 VOL 4 - ISSUE38/DEC/2016

C/o. CKB, 1st Floor, 20, Raja

Bahadur Mansion, Ambalal Doshi

Marg., Fort, Mumbai - 400 023.

Tel. : +9122 6637 0021

Fax : (91-22) 6637 0022

Email : info@amtoi.org

Editorial Team:

Mr. Xerxes P. Master

Mr. Vivek Kele

Catalysing Multimodalism

www.amtoi.org

Inside this issue:

AMTOI DAY CELEBRA-

TION ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

1

India & Bangladesh close to

signing agreement on use of Chittagong & Mongla ports

1

Call for speedy implementa-

tion of Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Dedicated Elevated Corridor project

2

Facilitation for ICD-bound

rail cargo at JN Port 2

Cabinet approves protocol

amending agreement be-tween India & Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxa-

2

Cabinet approves MoU

between India & UK to support Ease of Doing Busi-ness in India

2

Humor 3

AMTOI DAY CELEBRATION ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

Centre providing financial assistance to states to develop

port infrastructure

The government proposes to develop non-major/small/

medium ports in order to boost coastal shipping in the coun-

try. Financial support is being provided to Major Ports/non-

major ports/state governments for developing infrastructure

to promote the movement of cargo/passengers by sea/

National Waterways under the Central sector scheme

‘Assistance to Coastal Shipping Berths’. This scheme was merged with the Sagarmala programme in

India & Bangladesh close to signing agreement on use of Chittagong & Mongla ports

India and Bangladesh are expected to sign an agreement on

the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports by India during the

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to

India likely beginning on December 17, 2016, it is learnt.

During the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi’s visit to

Dhaka in June last, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

was signed between the two countries on the use of the

two ports. Subsequently, Shipping Ministry officials of both countries started preparing drafts of the

agreement and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The final agreement is likely to be inked

during the Bangladesh PM’s visit, reports said.

Page 2

Call for speedy implementation of Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Dedicated Elevated Corridor project

The Tamil Chamber of Commerce has thanked the Tamil Nadu government, led by the Chief

Minister, Mr O. Paneerselvam, for giving permission for the execution of the Chennai Port-

Maduravoyal Dedicated Elevated Corridor project. The Chamber had been pursuing this

matter for some time, representing it at various fora, in the media and to the state and Cen-

tral governments, it stressed in a release. The Chamber communiqué also thanked the Union

Shipping and Road Transport Minister, Mr Nitin Gadkari, and the Minister of State for Ship-

ping and Road Transport, Mr Pon. Radhakrishnan, for successfully following up the matter

with the state government. The project will be beneficial to Chennai Port and also help in the

overall economic development of the state, the Chamber said

Facilitation for ICD-bound rail cargo at JN Port

Cabinet approves protocol amending agreement between India & Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of

the Ministry of Shipping to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 with the Major Port Trust Authori-

ties Bill, 2016. This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full

autonomy in decision-making and by modernising the institutional structure of the Ports, emphasised a

release. With a view to promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and com-

merce, the proposed Bill aims at decentralising decision-making and infusing professionalism in the gov-

ernance of ports. The new Bill would help in facilitating faster and transparent decision-making, benefit-

ing the stakeholders and improving project execution capability. The Bill is aimed at reorienting the

governance model in Central ports to the landlord port model in line with the successful global prac-

tice. This will also help in bringing transparency in the operation of Major Ports.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the protocol amending the agree-

ment between India and Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal eva-

sion with respect to taxes on income.

The protocol, after it enters into force, will enable sharing of information exchanged under the Dou-

ble Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with other law enforcement agencies for non-tax pur-

poses, said a release.

Cabinet approves replacing Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 with Major Port Trust Authorities Bill, 2016

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of

the Ministry of Shipping to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 with the Major Port Trust Au-

thorities Bill, 2016. This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account

of full autonomy in decision-making and by modernising the institutional structure of the Ports, em-

phasised a release.

With a view to promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce, the

proposed Bill aims at decentralising decision-making and infusing professionalism in the governance of

ports. The new Bill would help in facilitating faster and transparent decision-making, benefiting the

stakeholders and improving project execution capability. The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in Central ports to the land-

lord port model in line with the successful global practice. This will also help in bringing transparency in the operation of Major Ports.

Humor

Page 3