In order to meet the requirements for exim trade infrastructure, the government plans to overhaul 300-odd dry ports in the country. The commerce ministry is taking steps to assess the laws governing dry ports, their subsidies and funding patterns, and streamline them with other ports in accordance with global practices.

The study comes in the wake of high interest in developing inland container deport (ICDs), container freight stations (CFS) and air freight stations following the Rs 8 lakh crore Sagarmala project aimed at port-led development of the country.

Setting up more new dry ports is expected to boost foreign trade as the study seeks to analyse the transaction costs involved in trade and aims to establish new dry ports based on location and logistics mix. The study will include performance monitoring and pricing regulations in other countries and suggest changes in the Indian context. The government plans to engage a consultancy firm to implement the study and suggest government interventions for efficient functioning of dry ports.