New Delhi, May 26 (IANS). Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s maritime sector is moving forward on the ‘Reform Express’ and the benefits of every reform should reach the people directly.
Sonowal announced that the ministry will celebrate ‘Maritime Reforms Utsav’ across the country to commemorate 12 years of reforms and development in the maritime sector.
This initiative will showcase India’s major achievements in sectors such as ports, shipping, inland waterways, coastal infrastructure, green shipping, digitalization and maritime connectivity. This will reveal the picture of India emerging as a major maritime nation in the world.
Sonowal also chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials. The meeting discussed a reform-based roadmap to bring rapid transformation in India’s maritime sector.
In the meeting, emphasis was laid on strengthening good governance, increasing ease of doing business, improving digital integration, making the grievance redressal system effective and completing major maritime projects within the stipulated time. There was also discussion on creating an accountable and systematic institutional system for this.
The Minister said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India’s maritime sector has witnessed unprecedented transformation through the mantra of ‘Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform’.
“The Maritime Reform Festival will celebrate India’s journey to becoming a modern, effective and globally competitive maritime power,” he said.
To promote digital governance and ease of doing business, the Ministry has also decided to develop an integrated digital platform and mobile app under the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping).
Through the proposed platform, better facilities, real time services, digital documentation, grievance redressal and integrated maritime services will be provided to the stakeholders through a single digital system.
Sonowal also stressed the need for better coordination between ministries, state governments, port authorities, maritime institutions and industry so that decisions on large maritime and logistics projects can be taken faster and implemented better.
He directed officials to strengthen coordination arrangements and institutional consultation between ministries, so that policies can be better implemented and monitored.
The Minister further directed to form a special Monitoring and Coordination Committee to review and monitor the results, commitments and strategic initiatives.
–IANS
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