New Delhi, March 30: The government has approved the proposal of New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) for the redevelopment of Berth No. 9 for handling liquid bulk cargo on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis under the DBFOT model, it was announced on Monday.

The approval for implementation was conveyed on March 25, 2026, in a major step towards augmenting India’s port infrastructure and strengthening maritime logistics, according to the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

With an estimated project cost of Rs 438.29 crore, the redevelopment will be undertaken by a private concessionaire selected through an open competitive bidding process (single-stage, two-envelope system).

The project will have a capacity of 10.90 MTPA, and the concessionaire will commit to a Minimum Guaranteed Cargo (MGC) of 7.63 MTPA by the 5th year of operations. The construction period is 2 years, with a concession period of 30 years, inclusive of construction.

The project envisages the dismantling of legacy infrastructure and comprehensive redevelopment of Berth No. 9 to handle liquid bulk cargo such as crude oil, petroleum products (POL), and LPG.

“As part of the modernisation, the berth draft will be enhanced from the existing 10.5 metres to 14 metres, with a future-ready design provision up to 19.8 metres, enabling the port to accommodate vessels up to 2,00,000 DWT, including Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs),” said the ministry.

“This transformative project is a reflection of the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whom India’s maritime infrastructure is being modernised at an unprecedented pace,” said Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

By replacing ageing facilities with world-class marine infrastructure, enhancing cargo handling capacity to 10.90 MTPA, and enabling the handling of larger vessels including VLGCs, “we are positioning our ports to meet future energy and trade demands while strengthening India’s role as a global maritime leader”, he added.

The project will replace nearly 50-year-old structures with modern marine infrastructure designed for a 50-year structural life, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.

The enhanced capacity will strengthen the port’s ability to meet the growing regional demand for liquid bulk cargo, particularly energy commodities.

By enabling the handling of larger vessels and VLGCs, the project will improve economies of scale, reduce logistics costs, and enhance overall port competitiveness, said the ministry.

New Delhi: Bharti Airtel has disclosed a regulatory development involving a minor financial penalty tied to compliance checks on customer onboarding processes.

The Department of Telecommunications, Madhya Pradesh Licensed Service Area, has issued a notice imposing a penalty of Rs 1,74,000 on the company. The action relates to alleged non-compliance with subscriber verification requirements under telecom licensing conditions, as detailed in Annexure A on page 2.

The issue stems from a Customer Application Form audit conducted by the DoT for January 2026. These audits are carried out periodically to ensure telecom operators adhere to rules governing customer identity verification before activating services.

Under the license agreement, telecom operators are required to maintain strict verification processes when enrolling subscribers. The audit identified alleged gaps in meeting these standards, prompting regulatory action from the authority.

Bharti Airtel has decided not to contest the notice and will pay the penalty. The company clarified that the financial impact is limited to the amount levied, with no broader operational implications highlighted in the filing. The disclosure reflects routine regulatory oversight in the telecom sector, where periodic audits ensure adherence to compliance norms.

Mumbai, March 27: Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane on Friday announced that an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based project will be implemented to enhance mango and cashew cultivation in Sindhudurg district.

Initially, 400 farmers—200 each cultivating mango and cashew—will be selected for the pilot phase. The project aims to digitise farms by collecting basic data such as farmers’ names, contact details and village information. Based on the success of the initial phase, the initiative will be expanded to include more farmers.

The proposal was presented by experts from ADT Krishi Vigyan Kendra Baramati in the presence of agricultural scientists and officials, including representatives from Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth.

Under the project, sensors will be installed to monitor soil health, crop conditions and yield patterns. Farmers will receive training and awareness about AI technology through group-based sessions conducted over a 150-day initial phase.

The use of drones for pesticide spraying is expected to significantly reduce time from several days to just a few hours, ensuring quicker and more effective disease control. Additionally, AI-based predictive models will help detect crop diseases in advance, reducing excessive pesticide use and curbing black marketing.