24 September 2016

Gujarat maritime sector to get over Rs 400 cr aid: MoS Mandaviya

The minister said that the Alang ship breaking yard was being developed into a "green" ship breaking yard to help it handle old Naval ships and even hazardous vessels.

The Narendra Modi government will be providing financial assistance to the tune of over Rs 404 crores for a host of maritime projects in Gujarat, including the delayed Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro project, two fishing harbour and sprucing up infrastructure at the Alang ship breaking yard, said Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Shipping, Chemical & Fertilizers and Road Transport & Highways, during his visit to Gujarat on Thursday.

“We are expecting to begin Ro-Ro ferry service between Gogha and Dahej by mid-2017. For this the Centre will provide an assistance of Rs 117 crore which will be used for dredging,” the minister said after his meeting with officials of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) at Gandhinagar. The Ro-Ro Ferry Service proposes to the Gulf of Khambhat by linking Ghogha in Bhavanagar district with Dahej in Bharuch district. Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the project in January 2012 as the chief minister of the state.

“A Rs 200 crore Workers Welfare Fund will also be used to build hostels and hospitals at Alang,” the minister said adding that the Alang ship breaking yard was being developed into a “green” ship breaking yard to help it handle old Naval ships and even hazardous vessels.

Talking about the projects that has been given clearance by the Modi government, Mandaviya talked about setting up of a marine shipbuilding yard near Bhavnagar. “Under the Sagarmala project, a new road linking Alang-Mandva-Mithivirdi-Hathan-Bhavnagar will also be built,” he said.

“We will also be providing Rs 50 crore of financial assistance in developing fishing harbour at Veraval and Mangrol. Another Rs 37 crore will be given for building new berths for coastal cargo and passenger services at Porbandar,” Mandaviya told in his interaction with media persons.

50-50 partnership on SRP battalion for GMB ports
The minister said that his ministry was still considering GMB’s proposal to raise a SRP battalion for guarding minor ports in Gujarat. “The state government and the Central government might share the cost of this project (Rs 350 crore),” Mandaviya said.

GMB aims at handling 360 MTPA cargo
He also said the minor ports under GMB have targeted to handle 360 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of cargo for 2016-17 fiscal. Last year the minor ports in Gujarat handled about 340 MMT of cargo.

Source: indian express. 23 September 2016

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