The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Major Ports Authority Bill, 2020, amidst strong opposition.

The bill seeks to provide greater autonomy to 12 major ports in the country and make their governance more professional by setting up boards.

The bill was passed through ballot votes with 84 in favour and 44 against it in the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha had on September 23, 2020, passed the bill.

Allaying the fears of members, the minister of ports, shipping and waterways, Mansukh Mandaviya, said
the passage of the bill was not intended towards privatising the major ports but was rather aimed at boosting their decision-making powers to compete with their private peers.

Various opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, RJD, DMK, AAP, CPI(M) and CPI, raised objections to the bill in the Upper House of Parliament and alleged that it was aimed at privatising the ports and diluting the powers of the states on land use.