Waterways can boost GDP by at least 2%: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressing a press conference about initiatives taken and roadmap planned by his Ministry in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

India’s waterways could contribute at least two per cent to the country’s GDP, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said here on Monday.

In an interaction with journalists, Mr. Gadkari outlined an ambitious agenda for the development of India’s underutilised waterways.

“We give subsidy to the polluting roadways and impose surcharges on the non-polluting water transport…developing the waterways is our top priority…it will revolutionise [transport],” he said.

Waterways were cheaper than rail and road, less polluting and resulted in fewer accidents, Mr. Gadkari said, adding they would throw open a whole new world of opportunities in the tourism sector.

He said the government was planning to introduce sea-planes, water buses, hovercrafts and floating hotels and restaurants to connect coastal towns like Cochin and the Andamans.

“We will turn all water bodies… dams, lakes etc. to water ports [like airports],” he said.

Announcing plans to connect the Haldia port to the North-Eastern States through the Brahmaputra river, Mr. Gadkari said the shipping industry was his highest priority.

He said the loss-making Shipping Corporation of India had turned a profit of Rs.50 crore during the first 100 days of the Narendra Modi government. “You will see a revolutionary change in water transport and shipping in the coming two years,” he said.

Mr. Gadkari also spelled out plans to develop a thriving ship-breaking industry in India.

'No question of breaking Ram Setu'

While he avoided any questions related to the poll-bound Haryana and Maharashtra, the Minister said the government would soon clarify its position on the Ram Sethu (Adam’s Bridge) issue.

“There’s no question of breaking it… we will go to the Cabinet… within one month. We will make our position clear on Ram Sethu,” he said.

Besides speaking to journalists present at the National Media Centre here, Mr. Gadkari also fielded questions from journalists across the country via video conferencing.

When, after Guwahati, Ranchi and Patna, it was Ahmedabad’s turn to pose a question, the journalists present there said “yahan se koi sawal nahi hain [there are no questions from here]”, raising a laugh at the press conference.