PANAJI
Tenders for the dredging of Mandovi and Zuari Rivers and building of terminals along both the rivers as part of developing these as national waterways will be floated this month, and work is expected to begin in October after the monsoons, Union Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of all ports, Gadkari said that as part of the plans, the terminals will come up at Betim, Britona, Aldona, Corjuem, Pomburpa, Durbhat, Old Goa, Panaji, Ribandar, and Chorao on the Mandovi River and will be part of ferry routes between Aldona and Panaji; Cortalim, Durbhat and Panaji, and Baina to Dona Paula and Panaji.
“Work to maintain the draught of 2.5 metres through dredging will begin in October and should be completed in six months,” Gadkari said, adding that the entire project would cost around Rs 250 crore.
He said that the rivers of Chapora, Cumbarjua, Mapusa and Sal would also be considered for developing as waterways.
Gadkari also said he received proposals from the State’s Tourism and River Navigation Ministers for funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore for the development of existing old jetties in the State, which he said he would consider favourably.
Gadkari was in the State for a meeting on the review of the performance of the 12 major ports across the country as well as the three companies that come under the Ministry of Shipping.
Gadkari announced that for the first time all the major ports across the country have reported profits with a combined profit of Rs 6,000 crore.
