New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T.R. Baalu today constituted a committee, comprising senior officials of his ministry and chairpersons of some major ports, to identify the areas where standardisation could be done to expedite the awarding of contracts relating to port development works.

Mr Baalu directed the Committee to submit its recommendations within three months.

The minister was addressing a Review Meeting of the chairpersons of major Port Trusts held here.

Mr Baalu asked the authorities of major ports to ensure that targets set for cargo handling as well as efficiency parameters were efficiently met.

''Ports must equip themselves to meet the challenges of increased quantum of foreign trade and to implement the projects relating to the ambitious National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP),'' he said, adding that Port Engineering Departments should be strengthened further to enable them to deliver the results in a time-bound manner.

The Port Trust Chiefs separately briefed the minister about progress made by their respective ports in the major NMDP schemes during the current financial year.

The meeting was attended by all the Chairpersons of major ports of the country, besides the senior officials of the ministry.

UNI/SKS VD RN2109