Latest news with #SarbanandaSonowal
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Coordinated efforts crucial to complete port projects in Maharashtra: Sonowal
Mumbai, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday emphasised the need for coordinated efforts between Central and state departments to expedite the completion of key port projects in Maharashtra. Coordinated efforts crucial to complete port projects in Maharashtra: Sonowal Chairing a joint meeting of central and state officials on port and coastal development in Mumbai, the Union Minister for ports, shipping, and waterways underlined the strategic importance of Maharashtra's maritime infrastructure and called for fast-tracking approvals for ongoing and proposed projects. State Minister for Fisheries and Ports Nitesh Rane, who also addressed the meeting, described the joint consultation as a "positive step" towards the state's coastal development and stressed the importance of timely permissions from Central agencies to ensure efficient execution and cost-effectiveness. "The meeting was held to coordinate between Central and state-level marine institutions. There was a detailed discussion on developing coastal infrastructure in Maharashtra. Sonowal ji directed officials to ensure that Central and state government agencies work in coordination to expedite the completion of projects in Maharashtra," he said. Senior officials from the concerned departments were present at the meeting. Sonowal said, "There are immense opportunities in the maritime and industrial sectors. Projects in the port sector of Maharashtra are crucial and should be fast-tracked with prompt approvals. Projects linking ports with rail and road networks should also be prioritised." He further stated that all projects approved under the Sagarmala programme in Maharashtra should be completed by 2026. Minister Rane said that better inter-departmental coordination would help secure approvals in a timely manner and reduce bureaucratic delays. "With smoother approvals, projects can be completed on schedule and within budget. Today's meeting was fruitful and is expected to give a major push to port development works in the state," he said. Key projects, including the Vaibhavwadi-Kolhapur railway project, Anandwadi port, Ro-Ro ferry services, water taxi initiatives, inland waterways, and jetty-related concerns, were discussed during the meeting. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
With schemes and sops, India is powering up its ship engines
The monster shipyards of China, Korea and Japan have dominated the world's shipmaking for long. Now, India wants to muscle in. A series of measures to build, repair and finance ships in India are likely this year, two people aware of the plans said, as the country aims to become a global maritime hub. The government is working on nearly a dozen mission-mode measures to fire up the local shipping industry, including a maritime development fund, a revamped shipbuilding assistance scheme, and policies to strengthen domestic ships and ports, the people said on the condition of anonymity. Apart from shipbuilding, repairs and recycling, the new schemes will also cover financing, insurance, technical management, staffing-crewing and manning, and arbitration. 'The idea is to plug every critical gap in the value chain so that India is not just building ships, but also financing, insuring, managing, and resolving disputes, essentially offering end-to-end maritime solutions," one of the two people cited above said. Chinese dominance Japan, South Korea, and China jointly command 90% of global shipbuilding, with China alone accounting for nearly 50% of all new vessel orders. The Chinese dominance has alarmed the US, with president Donald Trump slapping port fees on Chinese-built ships and proposing tax sops for US-made vessels, terming it crucial for security, prosperity, and jobs. Also read | India plans its own shipping fleet; wants to provide assured demand for ships built in the country from state-run firms India is also courting shipbuilders and financiers from Korea and Japan to set up shop in India, the second person added. The goal is to get these companies to support and form Indian joint ventures offering leasing and financing options, with an aim to ensure ships built in India find buyers at home and abroad. India has also urged some of these companies to offer shipping finance in India, replicating the model in their home country, the people cited above said. Foreign tie-ups 'Korean and Japanese shipbuilders are in talks with Indian counterparts to form JVs. Cochin Shipyard, for instance, is exploring a partnership with Korean firms for shipbuilding in Kerala," the second person added. A shipping ministry spokesperson didn't respond to emailed queries. "With less than 1% share in the global shipbuilding market, India is launching a multi-pronged maritime strategy to break into the world's top 10 by 2030 and top five by 2047," the first person mentioned above said. "Alongside mega shipbuilding parks, the government will roll out missions for ship repair, recycling, financing, insurance, cruise infrastructure, and arbitration—all aimed at building a full-service maritime ecosystem," the first person said. Read this | Shipping industry likely to get ₹25,000-crore boost To be sure, recent MoUs signed during Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal's Norway visit reflect growing international interest. Private power Private shipbuilders are also joining in. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers has signed deals with Germany's Carsten Rehder to make hybrid 7,500 deadweight tonnage (DWT) vessels, UAE's Aries Marine for offshore platforms, and a global engine manufacturer. Larsen & Toubro has also partnered with Norway's DNV to collaborate on shipbuilding and port infrastructure. "The recent developments are part of a larger push under India's new shipbuilding mission," the second person said. 'We are not just building ships; we are building the entire ecosystem. Alongside mega shipbuilding parks on both coasts, we are launching parallel missions for financing, insurance, staffing, and more to anchor India's maritime ambitions," the person added. In September, Mint reported on India's ambitious shipbuilding push, aiming to tap into a global market where traditional giants such as China, Korea and Japan, are overbooked, prompting buyers to seek alternative production hubs for modern vessels. Also read | For India's shipping industry, a new rule promises to be a game-changer "While we are seeing progress, the global market is still dominated by China, South Korea, and Japan. To bridge that gap, what is needed now is a clear push for foreign investment and technology transfer," Pushpank Kaushik, chief executive officer and head of business development (subcontinent, middle east and southeast Asia) at Jassper Shipping. "If policy can make space for that, it will not only attract global players but also strengthen our position in the international market. This would be a strong complement to the government's vision and help put India on the global shipbuilding map," Kaushik added. Maritime fund Existing initiatives to boost shipping include a ₹25,000 crore maritime development fund to raise investment in shipbuilding through blended finance and the development of mega shipbuilding parks on both coasts. The new complementary missions will cover ship repair, recycling, cruise infrastructure, financing, staffing, and insurance. Ship repair hubs are also being planned in Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Vadinar, besides a centre of excellence and free trade depot for duty-free imports. India has also launched the Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC) to localize arbitration and reduce reliance on global hubs like Singapore and Dubai. And read | Govt to hold talks with exporters as Iran-Israel conflict stalls shipments, drives up costs Meanwhile, a domestic maritime insurance entity, the India Club, is under consideration to offer protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance for coastal and inland shipping. Mega ports at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar are also central to the plan, aiming to boost port capacity, attract transhipment cargo, and create over 1.2 million jobs.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sonowal calls on panchayat leaders to uphold Modi's vision for 2047
Dibrugarh: Union minister of ports, shipping & waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday urged newly elected panchayat representatives in Tinsukia district to work toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047, stating that true democratic strength lies in grassroots participation. Addressing candidates from the newly formed Makum legislative assembly constituency who contested the recent three-tier panchayat polls, Sonowal congratulated all participants and underlined the importance of value-driven, transparent governance through the Panchayati Raj system. "Every candidate deserves heartfelt congratulations. Your involvement — win or lose — has strengthened the BJP's organisational base across panchayats. Let us continue working toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047," he said. Drawing a parallel between sports and politics, the Dibrugarh MP likened political credibility to Olympic success, saying both demand sustained commitment.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Atmanirbharta in shipping a key goal of maritime policy: Sarbananda Sonowal
Between engagements with Japan, Norway, and Denmark, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is on a global outreach to put India's fledgling shipping sector on the world map. Back from Norway—where he inaugurated the Nor-Shipping trade fair—the minister told Business Standard in an interview that India is actively pursuing self-reliance, or Atmanirbharta, in shipping, and has initiated multiple joint ventures between Indian shipyards such as Cochin Shipyard and leading global private sector shipbuilders. 'During the visit, India and private sector maritime players explored the scope of collaboration to further strengthen the shipbuilding ecosystem and build partnerships to manufacture maritime equipment and machinery in India, aligned with the Make in India initiative. India's strong shipbuilding capabilities must be sustained through cleaner and greener technologies, and towards this end, multiple MoUs were signed to transfer knowledge that empowers us to elevate our position,' Sonowal said. The government is looking to Europe for innovation in shipping and ship manufacturing, while simultaneously engaging major shipyards in Asia to establish operations in India. Earlier this year, following a series of Budget reforms, Gujarat's Deendayal Port issued a tender to establish a shipbuilding cluster in Kandla, aimed at attracting foreign players. However, the tender saw minimal response, with only one bidder. 'The Indian shipbuilding industry will need to develop its capabilities in terms of modern technologies and processes. This can be achieved through collaboration with foreign shipbuilders, and both private sector and PSU shipyards are actively pursuing this,' the minister noted. According to Sonowal, recent deliberations became opportunities to reinforce India's business-friendly stance in what is a highly capital-intensive sector. On whether evolving geopolitical dynamics have influenced India's strategy, Sonowal said: 'The global geopolitical situation is constantly evolving, and amidst this flux, our unwavering focus is to safeguard the future of India's maritime industry, reduce dependency, and ensure Atmanirbharta in shipping. We are committed to ensuring the sector remains growth-focused, strong, and seamlessly integrated into the global maritime ecosystem—aligned with national priorities and attuned to international opportunities.' On discussions with Norway, the minister said he engaged with industry leaders and explored a range of bilateral opportunities, including the potential for increased employment of Indian seafarers in the Norwegian fleet. Currently, around 10 per cent of Norwegian ships are being built in India. Smart Islands in Lakshadweep, Andaman The minister also met Terada Yoshimichi, Japan's Vice-Minister for International Affairs, and officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. He said plans to develop India's islands into smart islands were on the agenda during bilateral deliberations. 'We explored expanding ties between Indian and Japanese shipyards, including Greenfield investments such as Imabari Shipbuilding in Andhra Pradesh. We identified opportunities for co-developing ports and maritime clusters as clean energy hubs. I conveyed India's interest in joint ventures with leading Japanese shipbuilders—Imabari, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—and invited NYK Line, MOL, and K Line to invest in next-generation sustainable maritime technologies,' Sonowal said.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Patna to launch water metro soon: All you need to know
The capital of Bihar, Patna, is set to witness a major transformation in public transport with the introduction of Water Metro Services — an ambitious initiative announced by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. This initiative is part of the government's broader push to harness India's inland waterways for sustainable transportation, economic growth, and tourism MODERN ALTERNATIVE FOR URBAN TRANSPORTThe Water Metro in Patna will serve as a cleaner, more efficient, and eco-friendly urban transportation system by utilising the Ganga River. The proposed system is expected to connect both banks of the river, easing congestion on roads and providing a seamless commuting option for thousands of daily HIGHLIGHTS: WHAT TO EXPECT16 new jetties will be constructed across Patna. 2 modern terminals will be developed.A dedicated vessel hub will be established to maintain and manage the National Inland Waterways Institute (NIWI), based in Patna, will be upgraded as a centre of excellence to support the project and future waterway developments aim to transform Patna into a major hub for inland water transport in the eastern region of TO TOURISM AND LOCAL ECONOMYAlong with easing daily commutes, the Water Metro project is expected to:advertisementEncourage tourism along the Ganga local employment opportunities in ferry operations, terminal management, and the development of ecotourism and heritage tourism, linking the service with Patna's many cultural per the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the "Water Metro" will connect both banks of the river and offer a clean, efficient, and modern urban mobility solution. He also stated that the National Inland Navigation Institute is being upgraded as a centre of excellence with fresh investment to support this vision."The upcoming Water Metro service in Patna is not just a transport initiative—it symbolises the future of urban development in river-rich cities. As work begins on this ambitious project, it stands to not only modernize public mobility but also spark new growth avenues for tourism, employment, and sustainable infrastructure in Bihar.
