Center’s goal is to spur port-led development: Sarbananda Sonowal

VASCO: The Union ministry for ports, shipping and waterways aims to modernise all the major ports across the country and use them to spur port-led economic activity, Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
Sonowal laid the foundation stone for Mormugao Port Authority’s (MPA) Rs 122.7 crore international and domestic cruise terminal, which is expected to be ready by March 2024. Sonowal also laid the foundation stone for a flyover ramp at Baina, and five projects for the New Mangalore port.
“All the ports in the country are being taken up for modernisation and port-led development. The Gati Shakti mission is also linked to ports and that is why port-linked connectivity and coastal shipping and inland waterways are being improved,” Sonowal said.
Sonowal said that along with the cruise terminal, a fishing jetty and community development programs are also on the anvil.
The cruise terminal will be fully equipped with facilities like immigration counters, baggage facilities, commercial complex, restaurant and parking spread over an area of 13.40 acres. Construction of the up-ramp at Railway Yard in Baina will connect NH-178 flyover.
“Most of the Sagarmala projects are nearing completion or have been completed and that is why the nation’s cargo handling capacity is increasing on a day-to-day basis,” Sonowal said.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the projects being taken up by MPA will benefit Mormugao taluka as it will create over 3,000 jobs and bring more cruise vessels to the state. “I have explained to the Union minister that we need to start the cruise terminal and other activities so that the economy can survive and so that locals can get jobs. We don’t want to import only coal from here. Aside from coal we need to look at molasses and other products that can be exported,” Sawant said.
Sonowal also virtually inaugurated a four-lane entry gate and bilingual website for the New Mangalore Port aside from virtually laying the foundation stones for a garbage treatment plant and truck terminal for the New Mangalore Port.