New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday asked port authorities to use IT-based technology to increase efficiency, speed and delivery in the sector.

"In order to compete with the global trading systems, our port authorities need to take on more and more active roles in the governance of logistics systems and also adopt managerial and entrepreneurial behaviours," Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Gadkari was quoted as saying in a statement.

He was speaking at an event here, where he released a report titled "Next Generation Port Infrastructure -- Technology Transformation for Integrated Port Operations".

The minister pointed out that efficiency of Indian ports has improved over the last two years and that performance of government ports were better than those of private sector.

"Ministry has taken various steps to improve the efficiency of ports. Old rules have been weeded out, port mechanisation and modernisation is being done on war footing and projects for improving connectivity of ports are being implemented in right earnest," he added.