Union Government is going to put extra focus on the development of Waterways and Coastal Shipping.
With the Ministry of Shipping is renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Pattan, Pot Parivahan aur Jalmarg Mantralaya), stress will be more on development of National Waterways, which will facilitate Coastal Shipping.All the Coastal States including Odisha, which has National Waterway No:5 will be benefitted, officials say.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Chemicals & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the plaque of Ministry’s new nomenclature today and addressed the officials of Ministry along with all the officials of Ports and PSUs under the Ministry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the renaming of Ministry of Shipping while addressing, through video-conferencing, the inaugural ceremony of Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat on 8 November 2020.Around 1400 KM of Waterways have already been fully developed and additional 1000 KM is being developed on priority for which Detailed project Report (DPR) and Feasibility Study has been completed.
Mr.Mandaviya said focus for creation of a Port Grid, encompassing various smaller ports like fisheries port, agriculture port and mineral port etc so that port development and port-led development takes place in the country.
While making this historic announcement, PM Modi said “Now this Ministry will be known as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It is being expanded. In most of the developed economies, the Shipping Ministry is also responsible for Ports and Waterways. In India, the Shipping Ministry has been doing a lot of work related to Ports and Waterways. Now with more clarity in the name, more clarity will also come in the work.”
As soon as the Prime Minister announced the name change, the Ministry swung into action to complete all the related formalities. All the formalities were completed within two working days and the official notification of the name change was published in the Gazette of India on 10 November 2020.During the formal unveiling of plaque
ceremony, Mr.Mandaviya stated that it is indeed a matter of pride that with Prime Minister’s vision, the country is moving ahead with a holistic and long-term approach of multi-modal connectivity.
He appreciated Prime Minister for his foresight regarding the expansion of the scope of work as far as ports, shipping and waterways are concerned.Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Additional Secretary, Amita Prasad, Chairman, IWAI, Amitabh Kumar, DG Shipping, TK Ramachandran, Chairman, IPA along with Chairmen of all the major ports and senior officials of the Ministry attended the ceremony through video conferencing.
