The Hindu Business Line : `Sagar Mala expected to boost all marine sectors'

THE maritime fraternity is eagerly awaiting the implementation of the Sagar Mala project as it will bring about major changes to improve the entire maritime sector, according to Mr M.P. John, Surveyor-in-charge, Mercantile Marine Department, Kochi.

The Sagar Mala project is expected to infuse new life into some of the neglected sectors of the maritime industry such as inland waterways and coastal shipping, and development of these sectors would vitalise the ship building and repair activities by creating demand for more vessels, he said while addressing a seminar organised here as part of the Maritime Day celebrations. The intention of the project is for rapid capacity expansion and modernisation of Indian maritime infrastructure including ports in the East and West coasts, he added.

The implementation of the Sagar Mala project and the resultant boost to the inland water transport sector and coastal shipping is likely to increase the demand for new building to the extent of over 2,000 vessels in the inland water transport sector and 200 vessels in the coastal sector. This, he said is expected to infuse a new life in the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors and will require capacity expansion of nearly 800 per cent.

The revenue for shipbuilding and ship repairs from the present level of barely Rs 400 crore per annum each would surge by over Rs 2,000 crore per annum. The project aims at establishment of two international size shipyards through FDI or private equity investment and modernisation and upgradation of existing public sector shipyards. The total investment in this sector is envisaged at around Rs 10,000 crore, he said.

Inland water transport is the most environment-friendly, cost-effective and fuel-efficient mode of transport with huge potential for employment generation. For India with a coastline of 7,000 km and 15,000 km of navigable waterways, this can provide a very viable alternative to the heavily burdened rail and road transport.

Describing the Sagar Mala `a maritime revolution in the making', Mr John said the project would give a tremendous boost to all the facets of the maritime sectors such as ports, shipping, inland water transport, shipbuilding, maritime education and training.

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