Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated three major infrastructure projects worth over Rs 4,000s crore in Kochi, Kerala today. These projects are in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to transform India’s ports, shipping, and waterways sector and build capacity and self-sufficiency in it.
The Prime Minister discussed the role of every state in the journey of making India ‘Viksit Bharat’ during the Amrit Kaal, reminiscing about the role of ports in India’s prosperity in earlier times and envisioning a similar role for ports now as India takes new strides and becomes a major center of global trade.
The Prime Minister highlighted the reforms made in the ports, shipping, and waterways sector in the last 10 years, which have brought new investments in India’s ports and created new employment opportunities. He informed that the reforms of rules related to Indian Seafarers led to an increase in the number of seafarers in the country by 140 percent. Within the country, passenger and cargo transport got a major boost by making use of inland waterways.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the new dry dock is the national pride of India and will not only enable big vessels to dock but also make shipbuilding and ship repair work possible here, reducing dependence on foreign countries and saving foreign exchange.
The inauguration of the International Ship Repair Facility will transform Kochi into India and Asia’s largest ship repair center. The Prime Minister expressed confidence in the creation of a new ecosystem of MSMEs with the inauguration of such huge shipbuilding and repair facilities.
The new LPG Import Terminal will meet the LPG needs of Kochi, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Calicut, Madurai, and Trichy while supporting industries, other economic development activities, and creating new jobs in these areas.
The Prime Minister noted the foremost position of Kochi Shipyard’s green technology capacities and its primacy in making ‘Make in India’ vessels. He also praised the electric vessels made for the Kochi Water Metro and zero-emission electric cargo ferries being made for Norway.
The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the fishermen community in the blue economy and port-led development. He credited the manifold increase in fish production and exports in the last 10 years to the development of new infrastructure projects under PM Matsya Sampada Yojna, subsidy provided by the central government for modernized boats to carry out deep sea fishing, and Kisan Credit Cards for fishermen along the lines of farmers.
He said that the government is giving impetus to boosting India’s contributions in the seafood processing sector, which will lead to a huge increase in the income of fishermen and make their lives easier.
The Prime Minister concluded by wishing for continued rapid development of Kerala and congratulating the citizens for the new infrastructure projects.
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Source: PIB
