PANAJI:
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant unveiled Goa’s sustainable maritime roadmap at India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai today, announcing a Rs 3,500 crore LNG facility at Mormugao Port and a Rs 200 crore allocation from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) for National Waterways projects in the State.
The announcements were part of the Goa State Session themed “Blue Meets Green: Goa’s Model for Sustainable Maritime Development,” which highlighted the State’s vision for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the maritime sector.
Sawant, along with Minister for Captain of Ports, Public Works and Legal Metrology Digambar Kamat, led the Goa delegation at the event, which coincided with the inaugural session of India Maritime Week 2025 themed “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.” The session was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha.
“The theme truly captures India’s collective resolve to usher in a Maritime Amrit Kaal, an era of blue economy-led growth, innovation, and sustainable ocean management,” Sawant said, adding, “Goa takes pride in contributing to India’s maritime story through projects that blend tradition, technology, and environmental responsibility.”
Expressing gratitude to IWAI for the Rs 200 crore allocation, Sawant said the funding would accelerate infrastructure development in Goa’s waterways while ensuring that progress “goes hand in hand with sustainability and community welfare.”
Other key initiatives unveiled included a 2 MW solar power plant and plans for a floating marina at Mormugao Port, reaffirming Goa’s focus on renewable energy and sustainable port operations. The government also confirmed that its MoU with IWAI signed on January 10, 2025, will remain valid until January 2030, protecting Goa’s jurisdiction and rights over its waterways.
Minister Kamat outlined the State’s broader maritime vision, announcing that the upcoming Goa Maritime Board Bill would unify all port and maritime activities under one authority to streamline operations and enhance transparency.
“The Goa Maritime Board Bill will be a game changer, bringing all port functions under one roof for faster decision-making,” Kamat said.
He added that a new international and domestic cruise terminal is being developed at Mormugao Port, along with a terminal building at Panaji Port, seven permanent jetties, and 40 floating jetties under National Waterways. Feasibility studies are also underway for interstate ferry routes such as Goa, Mumbai and island-based submarine tourism to boost connectivity and tourism.
Kamat further said Goa is promoting shipbuilding and ship repair under the national Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, with plans to support green-fuel vessels, hybrid propulsion systems, and single-window clearance for shipyards. “Goa is exploring participation in the Rs 69,725 crore central initiative to boost shipbuilding and maritime clusters, ensuring our local industries benefit from this opportunity,” he added.
The State is also preparing infrastructure for bunkering, storage, and transport of green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, Kamat said. In collaboration with Ganpat University, Goa is developing the Goa Institute of Maritime Excellence (GIME) to train new maritime professionals with advanced simulators and workshops, a project backed by a Rs 50 crore investment from Ganpat University.
Recognising the role of coastal communities, the government announced initiatives for modern fishing vessels, solar-powered cold storage, aquaculture, and marine tourism ventures such as underwater cruises, seaplane services, and ropeway-linked nautical tourism. “Our maritime progress must benefit our coastal communities, who are the backbone of this sector,” Kamat said.
Aligning with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047, Sawant concluded, “Goa’s maritime story is one of transformation, from heritage to high technology, from local to global, and from blue to green.”
