PM Modi Pushes Inland Waterways To Boost Maritime Careers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared and heartily supported many infrastructure projects at Singur in Hooghly district of West Bengal, the total cost of which is more than Rs 830 crore. The projects, which are mainly focused on the development of ports and inland waterways, will not only make cargo and passenger movement easier but also contribute to the sustainable economic growth of eastern India.

While talking to the people, the Prime Minister said that the eastern part of India is the main driver of the country's overall development and that port based, led and waterways infrastructure would be the main source of generating huge trade, logistics, and employment opportunities over time.

That day the most thrilling announcement was probably the reveal of the ports and inland waterways projects to the tune of Rs 552 crore, the aim of which is to ramp up riverine logistics, lessen the burden on conventional transport routes and improve multimodal connectivity. These projects conform to the Government of India's vision of making inland waterways a low cost, non-polluting and reliable mode of transport.

Besides infrastructure, the inland waterways expansion and port modernisation programmes are giving rise to higher demand for skilled professionals, specialised training and research, led education. Students and young professionals pursuing green shipping and logistics, among other areas, can look for career opportunities in navigation, logistics, marine engineering, environmental sustainability and maritime management.

Green Mobility & Multimodal Logistics

The Prime Minister has also thrown open the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh which has been implemented by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority. It is a facility about 45 nautical miles upstream from Kolkata and is meant to resolve the problem of congestion at the Kolkata Dock System and enable smooth cargo movement through National Waterway, 1 along the GangaBhagirathiHooghly stretch. The terminal has the capability to handle containerised and coal cargo with the capacity planned at 2.7 million tonnes per annum, and it is backed by road and rail connectivity along with advanced dredging facilities for ensuring navigation throughout the year.

As part of the clean mobility initiative, Modi launched six hybrid electric aluminium catamarans, including a 50-passenger vessel powered by advanced lithium-titanate battery technology. Built at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the vessels represent a good move of green inland water transport, providing energy, efficient and environmentally friendly passenger mobility on the waterways of Kolkata.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, informed that inland waterways which had been underutilised are now, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, turning out to be a modern, efficient and economical mode of transport. He further stated that the projects will facilitate cargo movement, lower logistics cost & create employment besides promoting sustainable development.

Institutions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, including the Indian Maritime University, are updating their academic programmes and training frameworks to be aligned with the changing industry requirements. Officials emphasized that the combination of infrastructure development and skills creation will be the mainstay of the maritime and inland waterways sector of India for the long term.