PM Modi made the announcement while speaking at the inauguration of the RoPax ferry service between Hazira in Surat and Ghogha in Bhavnagar district on Sunday via video-conferencing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the Ministry Of Shipping will be renamed to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and this has been done to bring more “clarity” in the work it does.
He was seen emphasising on “vocal for local” as the mantra for celebrating Diwali with local products.
“This (RoPax ferry) is the diwali gift to the Gujarati people. The long-time dream of the people of Saurashtra and Surat has been fulfilled today, through this ferry service,” he said.
“Be it sea route or river route, India has no shortage of resources or expertise. It is also known that transportation by sea is far cheaper than by road or rail and does little damage to the environment… but work with a holistic approach in this direction was possible only after 2014,” PM said.
“These rivers and the sea did not emerge after Modi became the prime minister… they were always there… but this vision was not there… that the country started experiencing after 2014…” he said.
Modi added that to become ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India), it is important to boost the “blue economy” and strengthen sea-based logistics.
