SAGARMALA PROGRAMME

To harness the coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes, the Government of India has embarked on the ambitious Sagarmala Programme to promote port-led development in the country. The vision of the Programme is to reduce logistics cost of EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment. This includes reducing the cost of transporting domestic cargo; lowering logistical cost of bulk commodities by locating future industrial capacities near the coast; improving export competitiveness by developing port proximate discrete manufacturing clusters, etc. The Sagarmala programme has identified 504 projects under four pillars – 211 port modernization projects, 199 port connectivity projects, 32 port-led industrialization projects and 62 coastal community development projects which can unlock the opportunities for port-led development and are expected to mobilize more than Rs. 3.57 Lac Cr of infrastructure investment.

In the last 15 months (July 2019 – October 2020), 20 Sagarmala projects worth Rs. 4,543 crore have been completed which comprise 9 projects of Port Modernization worth Rs. 1,405crore, 7 Port Connectivity projects worth Rs. 2,799 crore and 4 Coastal Community Development projects worth Rs. 339 crore.

Ghogha - Hazira RoPAX Ferry

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagged off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat through video conferencing, on 8th November, 2020.A new maritime connectivity has been established between Bhavnagar and Surat of Gujarat. The service between Hazira and Ghogha will shorten the journey from 10-12 hours to 3-4 hours. This will save time and cost will also be reduced.

New name of the Ministry of Shipping

In the inauguration of Ghogha-HAzira RoPax Ferry, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the new name of Ministry of Shipping as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

First Seaplane of India started its operation from Statue of Unity,Kevadiya to Sabarmati River in Gujarat

India’s first Seaplane Service operation inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 31st October,2020, between Kevadia and Sabarmati River front in Ahmedabad. The innovative floating jetties made of concrete is installed by the Inland Water Authority of India to support the seaplane operations. Ministry intends to gauge the interest of airline operators who is interested in the operation of   the Seaplane services on the select routes. The key focus is to ensure faster and hassle-free travel of passengers, tourists and pilgrims through seaplanes to destinations which are currently accessible through long and tortuous road journeys.