MoPSW will hold the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee meeting on July 16 to develop a comprehensive maritime and waterways transport plan.
(Source: PIB) The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, will convene the State Maritime and Waterways Transport Committees (SMWTC) meeting on July 16, 2024, via video conferencing. Chaired by TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW, the meeting aims to ensure comprehensive development of maritime and waterways transport across India.
The committee will focus on preparing state-specific maritime and waterways transport master Plans, formulating maritime sector policies, and discussing green initiatives, waterways development, cruise tourism, urban water transportation, and lighthouse development.
To manage and integrate the waterways transportation sector, SMWTCs have been established to coordinate initiatives and schemes within each state. Each committee, led by the Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary, includes representatives from major ports, maritime boards, state PWD, Inland Waterways, and other relevant departments.
Currently, SMWTCs exist in 13 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Lakshadweep, with plans to extend to all 30 coastal and waterways states and UTs.
The meeting’s agenda includes reviewing the progress of existing SMWTCs, discussing state-specific issues, and exploring opportunities in various maritime sectors, such as the Sagarmala Programme, the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Ro-Ro and ferry services, urban water transportation, and the Harit Nauka scheme for green transition. Chief Secretaries will present their states’ progress and initiatives, aiming to address issues and foster collaborative solutions for enhancing maritime and waterways transport in India.
