In tandem with its policy to utilise the country’s waterways, the Centre is planning to embark on a programme to refurbish the ship-repairing facilities in various ports across the country..
“There is a need to develop the ship-repairing facilities and seven ports have been identified for this purpose,” said R.K. Agarwal Joint Secretary, Sagarmala Wing, Union Shipping Ministry, at a summit on Inland Waterways Transport and Coastal Shipping organised by the ICC.
Pointing out that ship-repairing facilities were inadequate in India, he said that seven ports had agreed on this project which was likely to be implemented in collaboration with public sector Cochin Shipyard, which would be the nodal agency. The locations include Mumbai, Goa, Pandu (Assam) , Kandla (Gujarat), Farakka (West Bengal), Kolkata and Dorigunj (Bihar). Most ports had ship-repair facilities since olden days but they needed to be developed, he said.
Cruise shipping
He also mentioned cruise-shipping as another thrust area saying the terminals at the ports, where cruise vessels plied, needed to be modernised to ensure pleasant experience for travellers.
The public sector Cochin Shipyard Ltd. will be the nodal agency for this and it will sign pacts with the individual ports for this project as ship-repairing activity has been identified as a sector that needs focus.
