Panaji: March 22, 2018 … The Central Government under Sagarmaala scheme has taken up connecting eleven major rivers and construct sixty new ports in the years to come said Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari at the inaugural function of inland ferry services Jetty and four lane overhead road at Baina Vasco recently. The function was organized by MPT.
Shri Gadkari said our country has 7500 kms stretch of coastal area which needs to developed as water ways. This he said will reduce the cost of transport in future. Under Sagarmala scheme, the Government has taken up to connecting 11 major rivers and to construct 60 ports along the coastal area.
Shri Gadkari speaking further said that the Government has twofold intention behind developing inland waterways. One among this is to is to promote transport and other is tourism. With the promotion of water transport the pressure of traffic on road would be reduced. The Central Government has invested Rs. 17500 Crores for the development of waterways across the country. He called upon the people of Goa to have positive approach to make the development possible in Goa. The ecology and environment of Goa would be accorded priority while undertaking developmental works, he assured.
The Union Minister of State for Ayush ( Independent charge ) Shri Shripad Naik while addressing the gathering lauded the contribution by the central Minister in the development of the state. The development of waterwayshe said is need of the hour. The inauguration of inland ferry services and jetty will help in the promotion of waterways and for tourist activities, he added.
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Shri Vinay Tendulkar, MP South Shri Narendra Savoikar, Panchayat Minister Shri Mauvin Godinho, Urban Development Shri Francis Dsouza, MLA Cortalim, Smt. Alina Saldanha, NRI Commissioner, Shri Milind Naik, Shri Nilesh Cabral, Chairman GTDC, officers of MPT, and others attended the function.
The Chairman of MPT Shri I.J Kumar IRTS, welcomed the gathering.