The twelve major ports, under the administrative control of the Centre, handled cargo of 326.4 million tonne (MT) in the April-September period this fiscal as against 316.1 mt in the corresponding period last fiscal, registering a growth of 3.24%. The Shippping minister has recently said that the blueprint for 142 port expansion projects is ready. The Centre plans to modernise 12 major ports and develop new harbours at a cost of about rs 90,000 crore.