Posted on January 5, 2016
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that as far as the world economy is concerned port development is important and due to which the central government has adopted a policy to deepen the draft of the port channel by 19.5 metre from the existing 14 metre.
Gadkari was speaking after commissioning the capital dredging of navigational channel of capesize vessels at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), which is estimated to cost Rs 193.50 crore, at cruise berth terminal, in the presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, MPT chairman I Jeyakumar, additional solicitor general for Supreme Court Pinky Anand and chairman and managing director of Dredging Corporation of India Rajesh Tripathi.
“The deepening of the draft channel by 19.5 meter would make possible navigation of 1,85,000 tonne capacity vessels in the port, thereby saving 30 dollars per tonne and reducing the logistic cost,” stated Gadkari. He disclosed that saving of 30 dollars per tonne will be a game changer and also change the economy of the state and the country as well.
“Mormugao Port in Goa is the first port to achieve deepening of the channel to 19.5 meter, facilitating speedy growth in trade, business, industry, economics and it would also achieve the progress by creating employment facilities to the Goan youths”, added Gadkari.
“In the world, logistic cost is important as trade and businesses are facing a major problem,” stated Gadkari, maintaining that it is essential to deepen the draft channel of the ports in order to reduce the logistic cost. He said the central government is making all efforts to remove bottlenecks pertaining to roads, railways and waterways in order to increase the trade and business in the state.
“Goa has a huge tourism potential due to which it requires creation of marinas, commencement of sea planes, ferry services in order to attract tourists,” Gadkari said.
He said that doubling of railway track from Hospet to Vasco is needed in order to increase trade and business and it would also reduce traffic congestion.
“The central government has constituted a port rail connectivity corporation for doubling of the rail tracks and the work has started after floating tenders for the project,” he informed, adding, the port rail connectivity corporation will be helpful for MPT in completing doubling of the railway track from Hospet to Vasco.
Gadkari informed that Sagar Mala project of the central government will also be beneficial to increase the waterways connectivity. He disclosed that the central government has identified 111 rivers throughout the country including Goan rivers which will be converted into waterways.
“The Parliament has already given nod for conversion of rivers into waterways, however, the bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha during the coming session for its clearance,” Gadkari said.
He urged the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to come up with a policy for prioritising waterways transport as it would save cost and reduce pollution.
Citing an example, Gadkari disclosed that waterways transport is widely accepted in Japan, China and other European countries; however, in India it is only 2.5 per cent.
Parsekar, while speaking on the occasion, said that dredging is required for MPT for reducing traffic congestion and cost. “It is interesting to note that around 11 lakh population in Goa has a record of 15 lakh vehicles and during the tourist season, the figure goes up to 20 lakh vehicles,” stated Parsekar, adding, in order to reduce vehicular pressure on the road, the people should consider waterway transportation owing to its cost effectiveness.
MPT chairman I Jeyakumar said that “dredging of the Mormugao port channel is an important project that will benefit the port and the state.”
