New Delhi: The country’s container handling capacity is expected to increase to 40 million TEUs by 2030, creating two million job opportunities across the country, Union Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday, a PIB press release stated.
During a press conference, Sonowal said that the government is committed to transforming India’s maritime sector and making it a global leader. “This government’s commitment to strengthening maritime infrastructure is paving the way for unprecedented economic growth and generating significant employment opportunities across the country. Waterways are becoming the new highways of India,” he said.
He said that the government is taking various steps to improve the maritime infrastructure and make it more efficient. “After 25 years since the establishment of Kamarajar Port, the addition of Vadhvan Port marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime journey, alongside the recent notification of Galathea Bay as a major port,” he said.
“In the next five years, MoPSW projects container handling to reach an impressive 40 million TEUs, creating 2 million job opportunities across the country. JNPA alone will scale up its handling capacity from the current 6.6 million TEUs to 10 million,” he added.
The minister said that the government is also engaged in promoting green shipping and improving the ease of doing business in the maritime sector. Recognizing the strategic importance of shipbuilding and ship repair, the Ministry is developing dedicated clusters in Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat.