In Coorg, Karnataka, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways began a three-day Chintan Baithak to think and explore concepts and innovations that can advance India’s blue economy. Sonowal stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective is to facilitate the development of coastal areas, enhance coastal infrastructure, and safeguard and advance the maritime sector. All of these procedures, he claimed, are intended to transform the blue economy and realise the benefits of “transformation through transportation.”
The Baithak was chaired by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (PSW) and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal. The Union Minister of State for PSW, Shripad Naik and the Union Minister of State for PSW, Shantanu Thakur; top officials of the ministry including Chairpersons of all major ports, senior officials of MoPSW attended the meeting to take part in the deliberations in this three day brainstorming session.
He said to make an Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is imperative that utmost care is taken to optimally utilise the huge opportunity of the Indian marine economy. The ministersaid our role – as a ministry of ports, shipping & waterways – is to empower and enable conduits through which these economic transformation can be achieved.
The Minister said through this Chintan Baithak, the best minds of country have come together so that all of us can deliberate, discuss & decide various challenges & opportunities. He said this will go a long way in preparing the roadmap for smooth & swift implementation of our plan to develop &modernise our ports.
Sonowal said we must look at the PPP model for this that will also ease up government resources for Greenfield port development. This will comprehensively develop the coastal regions of India for ease of living for people living in these areas and, at the same time, helps businesses avail best services through ease, he added.
In order to promote Multi Modal Connectivity, the Ministry is taking active efforts towards comprehensive development of both major & non-major ports. The importance of a well coordinated ecosystem was highlighted during the deliberations. It is imperative that Ports should expedite infrastructure projects at their end to increase the capital expenditure realisation, added Sonowal. For effective implementation of PM Gati Shakti National Multi Modal Connectivity Plan, emphasis was laid on prioritising rail-road-waterways development. A Master Plan to enable ports to identify and resolve bottlenecks in multi-modal connectivity is the need of the hour, he said.
