Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that the Union Ministry for Shipping has prepared a scheme to offer subsidy to shipbuilding industry. The same has been sent to union cabinet for its approval.

Addressing media men at a Press Conference at Dona Paula near Panaji in Goa today, after chairing the Sixteenth Meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC), Mr. Gadkari said in view of the world’s requirement of manpower in Maritime Industry, the Government of India will open up a sub centre of Maritime University at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to cater to 3 states namely Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, for which JSW has already allotted 200 acres of land. He said by 2020 Maritime Industry will provide jobs to over 6 and ½ crore skilled labourers, all over the world.

He said the Government of India will provide a financial assistance of Rs.50 crores to the Centre which will provide all types of training in Maritime Industry.

The Union Minister also said the Government has prepared a new scheme worth Rs.400 crore to boost Inland Waterways. Under the Scheme the Government of India will give 50% subsidy to states to erect floating jetties while 50% of the cost will have to be borne by the states. He said, for passenger jetties this subsidy will be Rs.10 crores while for container/ goods jetties the subsidy will be restricted to rupees twenty five crores.

The Union Minister also added that the Government of India contemplates to increase the source of cargo to 15.8% per annum by 2020, in the coastal states.

The Union Minister said that the Union Government has decided to open up 7 new major ports in addition to 12 existing major ports, out of which one will be based in Bengal namely SAGAR PORT and the other will be in Dahanu in Maharashtra to be opened up jointly for Maharashtra and Kerala. He said the works on these two projects have already begun.

The Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari released a vision document after the meeting. Releasing the vision document the Minister said in order to increase the share of coastal shipping in modal cargo mix to 10% by 2019-20 and to promote cruise tourism leading to development of coastal regions, the Ministry of Shipping has prepared a vision for Coastal Shipping, Tourism and Regional Development in consultation with stakeholders along with an action plan to achieve the objectives.

The Minister expressed confidence that in the next five years the share of coastal shipping in transportation of domestic trade will increase benefiting the country by way of reduced fuel consumption and green economy, generation of employment through growth of cruise tourism leading to regional development of coastal regions.

The meeting hosted by Mormugao Port Trust on behalf of the Union Shipping Ministry was attended by delegates from different parts of the country, including secretary and senior level officers from the Ministry of Shipping and chairman of all majors ports. Senior officers of the Inland waterways Authority of India, the Tariff Authority for major ports, the National Shipping Board, the Indian Ports Association and other maritime related Government organizations participated in the meeting.

                                                                            ***