Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Secretary TK Ramachandran called for better collaboration between state and central agencies to develop comprehensive development of maritime and waterways transport across India.
Speaking at the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) meeting, which was attended by senior officials from about 30 states and Union Territories, Ramachandran emphasised the importance of a unified approach to managing and integrating the waterways transportation sector.
He further said that the collaborative efforts of state and central agencies will be crucial in driving this sector forward.
The meeting focused on the preparation of state-specific maritime and waterways transport master plans, formulation of maritime sector policies, green initiatives, waterways development, cruise tourism, urban water transportation, and the development of lighthouses.
The agenda also included a review of the Sagarmala programme, the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, and opportunities in Ro-Ro / Ro-Pax / ferry / urban water transportation.
Secretary MoPSW also mentioned that the Kochi Water Metro model could be adopted in various other states, such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Goa.
Recognising the need for a unified approach to manage and integrate the waterways transportation sector, MoPSW has established SMWTCs to coordinate various initiatives and schemes within each state. These committees will be pivotal in consolidating efforts and providing focused leadership in the maritime and waterways sector.
Each SMWTC will be headed by the Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary and include representatives from major ports, maritime boards, state PWD, Inland Waterways, Department of Tourism, Department of Fisheries, Railways, NHAI, Customs, etc.
Currently, SMWTCs have been constituted in 13 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Lakshadweep, with plans to establish them in all 30 coastal and waterways states and UTs of India.
