To improve sea-trade between India and Myanmar, the proposed ferry service between the two nations will start next month. This move is expected to facilitate cargo and passenger movement between the two countries.
Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the service will begin in October this year. “The proposed cargo ferry service will connect the two countries through Chennai and Yangon (Myanmar). It will open a sea route and strengthen economic ties for land-based trade worth about billions of dollars,” said Gadkari.
State-run Shipping Corporation of India is likely to deploy a 1,200 TEU (twenty feet equivalent unit) vessel, which will connect the ports of Colombo, Chennai, Krishnapatnam and Yangon. Gadkari, who was addressing the press on the 100 days of Government, said that a special plan is in the works for the Mumbai Port Trust, but did not elaborate further.
“There will be a revolutionary change in the water transport sector in the next five years,” he said. The Shipping Ministry is planning to start a Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) service in the country for transportation of vehicles from factories, which will help in saving fuel used for the transportation of the goods through roads.
RORO ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks etc that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle.
“We have planned the expansion of the Cochin Shipyard, we are working on different schemes for cargo and passengers at the shipyard, we are planning to build three lNG (liquefied Natural Gas) vessels at the Cochin Shipyard at a cost of Rs1,500 crore each,” Gadkari added.
The Ministry is also working on a scheme for the promotion of ship breaking and building. “We have prepared a Cabinet note on the matter. The States of Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have potential for this kind of industry. We want to facilitate ship breaking and building in our country,” he added.
Gadkari also asserted that Ram Sethu structure will not be demolished for the construction of Sethusamudram shipping canal project. “The Government has given RITES, a state-owned consultancy organisation in transport, infrastructure sectors, the task of preparing alternatives available to save the structure, which holds religious significance for Hindus,” he said.