India emerges as world's leading ship recycling nation by gross tonnage: Minister
New Delhi, June 27
India has emerged as the world's leading ship recycling nation by gross tonnage, reflecting the country's commitment to environmentally responsible and globally compliant maritime practices, an official statement said on Saturday.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated Goa's new Captain of Ports Terminal Building in Panaji, a Rs 48.87-crore waterfront facility designed to strengthen maritime administration, improve vessel monitoring and navigation, and support the state's vision of sustainable maritime development.
The building, developed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), spans more than 4,405 square metres and replaces the existing Captain of Ports office, which had become inadequate for the department's growing operational requirements.
Sonowal said the new facility represents far more than a government building. "Today, we are dedicating much more than a building. We are dedicating a symbol of Goa's maritime identity, its commitment to modernisation and its vision for a sustainable and people-centric future," he added.
Highlighting the transformation of India's maritime sector over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said the country's ports have nearly doubled their capacity while vessel turnaround time has been reduced from 95 hours to 41 hours.
India's seafaring workforce has grown to more than 3.23 lakh, coastal cargo movement has more than doubled, cruise passenger traffic has increased more than fourfold, and operational National Waterways have expanded from three to 32.
The minister praised the Goa Government for emerging as a leader in maritime reforms, noting that Goa became the first state to implement the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
He said the proposed Goa Maritime Board, the Goa Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Policy and the Maritime Master Plan would further strengthen the state's maritime ecosystem.
Sonowal also highlighted the rapid development of the Mormugao Port Authority, where infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 1,300 crore have already been completed since 2014, while projects exceeding Rs 2,000 crore are under implementation.
In another announcement, Sonowal said the proposed Goa Water Metro project has now been brought under Phase-I implementation priority.
The event was attended by Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant; Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik; Goa Minister for Captain of Ports, Digambar Kamat; and Goa Minister for River Navigation, Subhash Phal Dessai, among others.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a Goan, I'm excited about the new Captain of Ports Terminal! The Goa Water Metro project being prioritized is much needed for our coastal tourism and local commute. ₹48.87 crore well spent? Let's see if it actually improves maritime administration.
Being in shipping logistics, I can confirm India's progress is real. Doubling port capacity and cutting turnaround time by half is no small feat. But we need to match this with digital infrastructure. The seafarer numbers are great too 3.23 lakh is huge.
Proud moment 🇮🇳! Leading in ship recycling is not just about tonnage but about doing it responsibly. The expansion of National Waterways from 3 to 32 is huge for inland logistics. Just hope the local communities affected by port expansions are also looked after.
Impressive stats - vessel turnaround time down from 95 to 41 hours, cargo doubled, and cruise traffic up 4x. But the real test is in implementation. The Mormugao Port Authority projects worth ₹2,000 crore need to be delivered on time without cost overruns. Let's keep the momentum going.
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