Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the world’s leading ship recycling nation by gross tonnage, reflecting the country’s commitment to environmentally responsible and globally compliant maritime practices, an official statement said on June 27.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated Goa’s new Captain of Ports Terminal Building in Panaji, a Rs 48.87-crore waterfront facility designed to strengthen maritime administration, improve vessel monitoring and navigation, and support the state’s vision of sustainable maritime development.
The building, developed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), spans more than 4,405 square metres and replaces the existing Captain of Ports office, which had become inadequate for the department’s growing operational requirements.
Sonowal said the new facility represents far more than a government building. “Today, we are dedicating much more than a building. We are dedicating a symbol of Goa’s maritime identity, its commitment to modernisation and its vision for a sustainable and people-centric future,” he added.
Highlighting the transformation of India’s maritime sector over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said the country’s ports have nearly doubled their capacity while vessel turnaround time has been reduced from 95 hours to 41 hours.
India’s seafaring workforce has grown to more than 3.23 lakh, coastal cargo movement has more than doubled, cruise passenger traffic has increased more than fourfold, and operational National Waterways have expanded from three to 32.
