Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways building Port Grid comprising of fisheries, agriculture and mineral port: Mansukh Mandaviya

NEW DELHI: Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Chemicals & Fertilizers said on Thursday that the ministry was working on the creation of a Port Grid comprising of fisheries port, agriculture port, and mineral port to ensure port development and port-led development in the country.

The minister also disclosed that the feasibility study for developing additional 1000 km waterways on priority was also completed, and the work on the same would take off anytime soon.

The minister said this while interacting with the media persons after the formal unveiling of the plaque of the recently renamed ministry. The Ministry of Shipping was renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (Pattan, Pot Parivahan aur Jalmarg Mantralaya), and an announcement to this effect was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat on 8 November 2020.

Mansukh Mandaviya said, “With the changed name, the Ministry is going to put extra focus on the development of Waterways and coastal shipping. Around 1400 km of waterways have already been fully developed and an additional 1000 km is being developed on priority for which DPR/feasibility study has been completed.”

“We are also focussing for creation of a Port Grid, encompassing various smaller ports like fisheries port, agriculture port and mineral port etc so that port development and port-led development takes place in the country,” he added.

During the formal unveiling of the plaque ceremony, Mandaviya said that it was indeed a matter of pride that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the country was moving ahead with a holistic and long-term approach of multi-modal connectivity.

He added that he was indeed grateful to Prime Minister for his foresight regarding the expansion of the scope of work as far as ports, shipping and waterways are concerned.

The minister said as soon as the Prime Minister announced the name change, the Ministry swung into action to complete all the related formalities. All the formalities were completed within two working days and the official notification of the name change was published in the Gazette of India on 10th November 2020, Mandaviya added.

Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary,

Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Dr. Amita Prasad, Chairman, IWAI, Amitabh Kumar, DG Shipping,  T.K. Ramachandran, Chairman, IPA, along with chairmen of all the major ports and senior officials of the Ministry attended the ceremony through video conferencing.