Key Points:
- Ministry of Shipping is now Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- The name of the Ministry is changed in order to cover all the aspects and focus on them individually.
- PM Modi was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira in Surat and Ghogha in Bhavnagar district when he announced the change.
On November 9, when Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi was addressing the gathering after inaugurating a Ro-Pax ferry service, announced that the Ministry of Shipping will be called as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways henceforth.
The Ministry of Shipping will now be known as Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, as this ministry is responsible for work related to all three departments.
The new name aptly captures the expanded role of the ministry.
– PM @narendramodi #ConnectingIndia pic.twitter.com/NCgrE6LN0f
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 8, 2020
The Prime Minister is said that the decision to rename the Ministry was because, the clearer the name of the ministry, the clearer the work that the Ministry does. PM Modi said that in most of the developed countries, the Ministry of Shipping carries the responsibilities of Ports and Waterways, and hence this step.
The Official Press Release from Press Information Bureau said that:
The Prime Minister renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. He said in most of the developed countries the Ministry of Shipping handles Ports and Waterways. He added now with more clarity in name, there will be more clarity in the work.
PM Modi conveyed this while in the address during the inauguration of the Ro-Pax Ferry service in Gujarat. The service will run between Hazira in Surat and Ghogha in Bhavnagar district. The ferry will help reduce the approximately 370 km road distance between the two places to 90 km by sea route. This will also reduce the travel time from 10-12 hours to three to four hours, the PM added.
Before declaring the renamed Ministry, PM Modi said, “Work is being done so that the country’s sea area emerges as an important part of ”Atmanirbhar Bharat”. To boost the government’s effort, one more big step is being taken.
And then the Prime Minister said, “Now, the Ministry of Shipping is being renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.”
While talking about the Ro-Pax ferry, PM Modi said to strengthen the “blue economy”, it is important to strengthen logistics related to the sea and in comparison to other countries, India’s transport is on a larger scale even today. Water Transport can drastically reduce the cost of the transport, said the PM.
