Waterways game changer in industrial growth

Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has emphasised the need to reduce logistics cost and said that inland waterways would be imperative for the success of Make in India initiative.

“There was a renewed focus on developing inland waterways which is globally recognized as fuel efficient, cost effective and environment friendly mode of transport,” he said during the ‘Make in India Week’ in Mumbai on Wednesday.

“There is a proposal to build 2,000 water ports over the next five years,” he added.

Apprising the participants, in Make in India Week, he said, “A lot of initiatives, including mechanization, modernization and capacity addition have already been undertaken in the port sector with a massive investment of Rs.80,000 crore.

During the occasion, the minister appealed the private sector to come forward to develop cruise tourism, light houses and islands which hold immense tourism potential.

“One of the reasons for inland waterways not being optimally tapped was due to the focus of post independent governments on speed, which led to higher allocations in roads and railways development,” Inland Waterway Authority of India chairman Amitabh Verma said.