looking to replicate transport modes in popular European locales in France and Italy, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari spelled out the need to move away from conventional and polluting road transport to rail, water and electric modes of commuting.
Gadkari, who was in Goa to conduct a review meeting of all major ports and other Union shipping Ministry agencies, also said that there would be an increased focus on creation of liquid cargo-handling infrastructure in existing ports.
The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping said that India should emulate France, which has excelled at using electronic modes of transport, like rope-ways, cable-cards and funicular runways.
“France alone has around 5,000 rope-ways, cable car and funicular runway... We can undertake thousands of projects in hilly areas. Instead of using diesel, we can use electricity,” Gadkari told reporters after chairing the review meeting at a South Goa resort.
The minister said that the recently formed Indian Port Rail Corporation had been asked to conduct a study of all globally existing safety and construction norms for such projects and recommend a framework of laws for the country.
For Goa, Gadkari laid out a vision of Venice, saying like in the fairy-tale Italian city, Goa should also look at connecting its airports to a waterway, so that tourists could hop off a plane and then take a boat to their respective hotels.
Gadkari also said that the Shipping Ministry would look at creating infrastructure for the burgeoning liquid cargo import, especially those like lNG, lPG, methanol, CNG and edible oils and setting up of logistic parks at major ports.
“At the meeting, we decided to focus on creation of liquid cargo handling infrastructure. Chennai, Paradip and Vizag will also have major logisgics parks,” Gadkari said.
Transportation of liquid cargo was bulky, unsafe and environmentally unfriendly, he said, adding that there was a need to shift transportation of liquid cargo by waterways.