Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Highlights Maritime Achievements and Future Plans
New Delhi, India – Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, presented an extensive overview of the significant milestones achieved by the Ministry during the first 100 days. The press conference showcased the Ministry’s contributions toward transforming India’s maritime sector, aligning with the vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047.
Prime Minister’s Vision
Sonowal began by acknowledging the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress’ has driven India’s maritime transformation. He emphasized PM Modi’s focus on holistic development and the mantra of ‘Transformation through Transportation,’ which is leading to a complete overhaul of India’s maritime landscape.
Major Initiatives
Sonowal highlighted several major initiatives, including the addition of Vadhvan Port and the notification of Galathea Bay as a major port. These projects are expected to significantly boost container handling capacity and create millions of job opportunities. The Ministry is also developing shipbuilding and ship repair clusters in various states and allocating land for hydrogen manufacturing hubs.
Upcoming Conference
The upcoming ‘Sagarmanthan: The Great Ocean Conference’ in Mumbai this November will focus on ocean sustainability and blue economy growth.
Flagship Projects
Sonowal presented flagship projects like Vadhvan Port, poised to become one of the largest all-weather deep-water ports, and the Tuticorin International Container Terminal, which will serve as a major transshipment hub. These projects aim to improve international shipping connectivity and reduce transit times and costs.
Ease of Doing Business
The Ministry introduced several reforms to enhance ease of doing business, including the establishment of the Indian Maritime Centre and the Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre. The commencement of operations at Cochin Shipyard’s International Ship Repair Facility positions India as a global leader in the ship repair market.
Greening Initiatives
The Ministry launched the Green Tug Transition Programme and allocated land for green hydrogen projects. The International Cruise Terminal at Visakhapatnam was also operationalized, boosting maritime tourism.
Future Plans
Sonowal outlined future priorities, including the commencement of work on the International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay and the expansion of the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy. The Ministry will also enhance operational efficiency through digitalization and introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill and Coastal Shipping Bill to improve vessel safety and reduce transportation costs.
With a focus on sustainability, the Harit Nauka scheme will promote green fuels for inland vessels, and hydrogen-powered vessels will be manufactured at Cochin Shipyard. The Cruise India Mission will position India as a premier cruising destination.
Sonowal concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to transforming India’s maritime sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aiming to make India a global maritime powerhouse.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the government of India. They help make important decisions and manage their department.
Sarbananda Sonowal -: Sarbananda Sonowal is a politician in India. He is the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
Maritime -: Maritime means related to the sea. It includes activities like shipping, fishing, and managing ports.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways -: This is a part of the Indian government that looks after ports, shipping, and waterways. They make sure everything runs smoothly in these areas.
Vadhvan Port -: Vadhvan Port is a new port being developed in India. Ports are places where ships load and unload goods.
Tuticorin International Container Terminal -: This is a special place in Tuticorin where big containers are loaded and unloaded from ships. It helps in moving goods faster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India. He is the head of the government and makes important decisions for the country.
Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress -: This is a vision by Prime Minister Modi. It means using ports to make India richer and more developed.
International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay -: This is a planned port in Galathea Bay where containers from big ships can be moved to smaller ships. It helps in faster shipping.
Cruise India Mission -: This is a plan to make India a popular place for cruise ships. Cruise ships are big ships where people go on vacations.
Infrastructure -: Infrastructure means the basic facilities like roads, ports, and buildings that help a country run smoothly.
Ease of doing business -: This means making it simpler for people to start and run businesses. It includes reducing paperwork and making rules easier.
Sustainability -: Sustainability means using resources in a way that does not harm the environment and can be continued for a long time.