Speaking at the eight convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, Murmu said, “India does not figure in the top 20 nations when it comes to the annual port calls. On the list of 50 best container ports worldwide, we only have two. The Indian ports must address infrastructural and operational challenges before they graduate to the next level. The majority of our fishing fleet is yet to be mechanised.”
Detailing the need to overcome several challenges faced by the sector, she quoted as example the fact that “a lot of container ship cargo is diverted to nearby foreign ports due to depth restrictions. In the merchant and civilian shipbuilding industry, we need to aim for the highest standards of efficiency, efficacy and competitiveness.”
Citing the Sagarmala programme, Murmu said it was a significant move away from port development to port-led development. “The five pillars of “port-led development” envisaged by Sagarmala are port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development and coastal shipping or inland water transportation.
