Achievement for ministry as 12 major ports, 3 flagship shipping firms running in profits: Gadkari
VASCO
Union Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said it was an achievement for his ministry that 12 major ports and three flagship shipping organisations are all running in profits for this year.
He was addressing a gathering after commissioning the Indian Coast Guard Ship “Shoor” at Goa Shipyard Limited on Monday. Others present at the function included Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, FOC-in-C (West) Vice Admiral Surinder Pal Singh Cheema, CMD Goa Shipyard R Adm Shekhar Mital and other officials.
“The Coast Guard is very important for our country as far as the security is concerned. It is a great pride for all citizens that the Indian Coast Guard has protected them from different kinds of enemies at sea,” said Gadkari.
“As shipping minister, it is a great achievement for my ministry that for this year 12 major ports and three flagship shipping organisations, Cochin Shipyard, Shipping Corporation of India and Dredging Corporation of India, all are running in profits,” the union minister said.
Our profit is now Rs 6,000 crore for this year and the government has already decided to give priority for coastal shipping,” added Gadkari.
Gadkari, however, voiced concern over the low traffic of goods by waterways.
“We have 13 states bestowed with 7,500 km of coastline, but we are very low in the order of goods traffic along waterways,” said Gadkari.
“China ranks first with 47% of passengers and goods traffic by waterways, while Korea and Japan have 43% and 44% respectively and other European countries also have more than 40% of water transportation.”
“India faces a problem in the international market for lacking in the extensive use of waterways for transportation.”
“Our logistical costs of 16-18% are very high, compared to China (8-10%) and European countries (10-12%). The situation is such that transporting goods from Mumbai to Delhi is very costly and it would be cheaper if the same material is transported from Mumbai to UK,” Gadkari said.
Claiming that the Central government is aware of this situation and wants to change this, Gadkari said the World Maritime Summit would be organised in Mumbai from April 14 to April 16.
“During this three-day event, the government will launch its ambitious project “Sagar Mala” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is expecting Rs 4 lakh crore investment in infrastructure and Rs 8 lakh crore investment in industrial development. This will create direct job opportunities to 40 lakh youth as well as 60 lakh indirect jobs, which will change the scenario in the country.”
Gadkari complemented Goa Shipyard for designing and constructing the ship indigenously and delivering ahead of its schedule.
GSL MD Hari Pai Raikar said the Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Shoor' is the second ship of the series of six Off Shore Fast Patrol Vessels and has been designed and built indigenously.
“The ship is fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery. On joining the coast guard fleet, it will be based at New Mangalore and will be deployed extensively for EEZ, Surveillance and other duties enshrined in the Coast Guard Charter to safe guard the maritime interest of the country,” said Raikar.
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...Says plans to introduce seaplanes
VASCO: Union Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said he has plans to introduce seaplanes in the country, adding that a Canadian company has shown interest in supplying the sea planes.
“While the Coast Guard is adopting various innovations, I would request the Coast Guard to think about sea planes. A small country like Maldives has 47 seaplanes, where as India does not have even one,” added Gadkari.
“I am planning to introduce seaplanes in the country and a Canadian company is interested in supplying us with the seaplanes,” he said.
“There is also a need for hovercraft and I am aware that GSL has already finalised its joint venture with a British company to make them in India.”
Commenting on the road network in the country, Gadkari stated that the entire road network is 52 lakh kms in length, of which only 96,000 kms are national highways.
“We have taken a decision to increase the national highways to 2 lakh kms,” said Gadkari.
“Today, 40% of traffic is along 2% of the 96,000 kms and once we increase the national highways to 2 lakh kms, 80% of traffic will ply on the national highways,” the union minister said.
