Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal delivered a speech at the ongoing India Calling Conference, organised by the IMC Chamber of Commerce & Industry here today. The session titled ‘India Rising – Inviting Partnerships for Growth’ was also attended by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of State (MoS) of Railways & Textiles, Darshanaben Jardosh. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is forging ahead with a never before speed. In less than 9 years since India has become a US$ 3.5 trillion economy. This blistering speed of the growth is historic and this remarkable feat is the result of Gati Shakti. Gati Shakti NMP heralded a new chapter in governance.The multi-modal connectivity provides integrated and seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services from one mode of transport to another. It facilitates last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people.” The Union Minister also appraised how the country has achieved a record value of goods exported in the FY2022-23 with an increase of staggering ?2 lakh crore in value terms compared to the same period in the corresponding year. Speaking on this, Sonowal said, “It is as a result of those transformational initiatives that in Financial Year 2023, India’s Goods exports touched US $ 447 Billion, up from US $ 422 Billion last year which translates into a huge increase of more than Rs. 2 lakh crores in an year.” Under PM Gati Shakti NMP, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has identified 101 projects worth ?62,227 Crores for implementation by 2025.Out of these 101 projects, 26 projects worth ?8897 Crore have been completed, 42 projects amounting ?15,343 Crore are under development while and 33 projects worth Rs36638 Crore are under implementation. Out of the projects under implementation, 14 projects worth ?20,537 Crore are expected to be completed by Dec 2023. The session was also attended by Anant Singhania, President, IMC; Dinesh Joshi, Chairman, IMC International Business Committee; Mark Fernandes, Chairman, IMC Shipping and Logistic Committee; and Ajit Mangrulkar, Director general, IMC. Of the 101 MoPSW Gati Shakti projects, 57 are from the Major ports and 44 projects are from States. These projects have supported faster and efficient movement of cargo, leading to overall reduction in logistics cost.Ministry of PSW has also identified 5 High Impact Projects (HIP) which demonstrates the concept and spirit of PM Gati Shakti. These have been uploaded in the PMG portal and being monitored at the Cabinet Secretariat level. 3 HIP projects are already completed; balance 2 projects are under implementation and expected to be completed by Dec 2023. Under Sagarmala, which is Ministry’s flagship programme, the modernisation of ports and revamp of Inland Waterways since 2014, has received a tremendous boost, Sonowal underlined. Concluding his remarked, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, this Government has been working hard towards improving and modernising India’s Port and connected Infrastructure.As a result of various radical initiatives and through the boost given to coastal shipping and inland waterways during the last 9 years, the nation is witnessing the resurgence of a cheaper, safer and eco-friendlier mode of transportation for goods and passengers. The Indian shipping sector has grown in leaps and bounds.The tonnage of Indian Ships has increased to 13.7 Million Gross Tonnage as compared to only 10.3 Million Gross Tonnage in 2014. The number of Indian Seafarers employed in 2014 were 1,17,090 which increased to 2,50,071 in 2022 registering a massive increase of almost 114 % in less than 9 years.We are constantly working to facilitate ease of business. I look forward to your support and suggestions to make India stronger and realise the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji of becoming Atmanirbhar by 2047.
