Speaking at the eighth session of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, Kiran Bedi, the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, highlighted the need for Indian ports to address their infrastructural and operational challenges in order to improve their global ranking. She pointed out that India is not among the top 20 countries for annual port calls and only has two container ports on the list of the world’s top 50. Bedi also emphasized the importance of mechanizing the majority of India’s fishing fleet.
Bedi further mentioned one of the challenges facing the sector, which is the diversion of container ship loads to nearby foreign ports due to depth restrictions in Indian ports. She stressed the need for efficiency, effectiveness, and competitiveness in commercial and civil shipbuilding.
Regarding port development, Bedi highlighted the Sagarmala scheme as a significant step towards port-led development. She explained that the scheme encompasses five pillars, which are port modernization, port connectivity, port-led industrialization, coastal community development, and coastal/inland navigation. These pillars aim to facilitate overall development in the coastal regions of India.
More Stories
US Coast Guard Students Demand $130 Million for Alleged Sexual Assault
Fuel Cell and CCS Study Aims to Reduce Maritime Emissions
BC Ferries Struggles with Aging Fleet After Propeller Loss of Iconic Vessel