Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coast Discovery Campus in Chennai

• Centre is built under the ambious Sagarmala scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)

• For FY 22-23, 37 projects worth Rs 2,500 Crore have been sanconed under the Sagarmala Program

CHENNAI: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Discovery Campus of the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts at IITM, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This centre aims at enabling Research & development for the marine sector enabling solutions towards achieving the ultimate goal of building a robust marineindustryinthecountry.Thisstate-of-the-artcentre will ensure advancement in the field of maritime technology, as well as modernisation & upgradation possibilitiesintheport&operationstowardsachievingthe visionofAtmanirbharBharatby2047.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “With the inauguration of this state-of-the-art centre dedicated towards research and development of technological solutions to enable growth of marine sector, we move closer to achieving the vision of our Prime Minister ÄShri Narendra Modi ji to make India an atmanirbhar country.Theroleofmarinesectorissupremeinthenation building. As we continue to embark on our journey to improve our performance, such centres will play a pivotal role in this regard. We believe that our rich & talented pool of engineers & scientists will provide cutting edge modern solutions able to deal with dynamic challenges of the marine sector. By developing a multi modal system of logistics movement, the vision of Prime Minister Modi ji to empower our logistics sector to become efficient yet cost effective through PM National Gate Shakti has received a tremendous shot in the arm with the launch of this centre. Our Sagarmala programme has been designed to bring in transformation in the existing system to become modern, worldclassportsandpowertheengineofgrowthofIndia.”

TheUnionMinisteralsoassuredthatthisfacilitywould be expanded to include more World Class Lab Facilities andInnovationHubstosupportMaritimeStart-Ups.

To advance the Sagarmala Programme’s objectives, NTCPWCwilldealinappliedresearchwhileanalyzingand fostering port and maritime industry activities. Major Ports including Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Paradeep Port, Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port, VOCport,NewMangalorePort,VisakhapatnamPorthave contributed generously toward creation of the institute.

Significant contributions have also been provided by Inland Waterways Authority of India. The SMP Kolkata, Mormugao port and Cochin port have also partnered in thisactivitybyprovidingmajorcasestudycenters.

Under Sagarmala Scheme, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has partially funded 171 projects worth Rs. 10,900 Crore across coastal states and UTs. Out of 171 projects, 48 projects worth Rs. 2,900 Crore have beencompletedand123projectsworthRs.8,000Croreare undervariousstagesofimplementationanddevelopment. In FY 22-23, 37 projects worth Rs. 2500 Crore have been sanctioned by this Ministry under the Sagarmala Scheme. Toharnesstheefficiencyfromprivatesectorinoperations, 52 projects worth Rs. 40,200 Crore have been completed at Major Ports in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Further, 84 projects worth Rs. 49,500 Crore are under various stages of implementation and development. In addition to above, Sagarmala Development Company Limited has invested Rs. 530 Crore in 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, which have beencompleted.

An impetus has been given by the Government under the Sagarmala Program to undertake projects which will result in shift of cargo from land-based transportation to coastal and inland waterways mode which is sustainable and environment friendly. The overall amount of coastal freight handled at ports has increased by ~16% in FY2022-23whencomparedtopreviousfiscalyearbecause of these measures. It is the result of these efforts at ports thattotalcargohandledatportshasregisteredagrowthof ~8.6 % in FY 2022-23 when compared to previous fiscal year. This has contributed in India achieving the $440 billionofmerchandiseexportprojectedforFY2022-23.

During the inauguration, Ms Malini V Shankar Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University, Shri Sunil Paliwal Chairperson, Chennai Port Authority, Dr. Venkata Ramana Akkaraju Chairperson, New Mangalore Port Authority, Shri Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IITM, Prof. K Murali, Dean (Faculty) Department of Ocean Engineering; Prof S. Nallayarasu HoD, Department of Ocean Engineering and other dignitarieswerealsopresent.