Bhavnagar (Gujarat) [India], September 20 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the maritime sector and said that the State handles 49 per cent of the total national cargo.
Addressing a public meeting in Bhavnagar, CM Patel said that PM Modi's vision is to take advantage of Gujarat's long coastline for maritime trade, as the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event.
The Chief Minister said, "In the changing parameters of the 21st century, PM Modi gave a vision to get opportunities in modern trade with the help of maritime. His vision is clear that Gujarat has a long coastline and its advantage must be taken... Industries are established near the ports... As a result, Gujarat handles 49% of the total national cargo."
As PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the projects, the Prime Minister said, "This programme is taking place in Bhavnagar, but it belongs to the whole of India. Today, Bhavnagar has been chosen as the centre for this important initiative, which reflects our nation's vision of moving towards prosperity through the seas."
PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock.
He also laid the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; a new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi.
In line with his commitment to holistic and sustainable development, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 26,354 crore, jointly undertaken by the central and state governments, catering to various sectors in Gujarat.
He inaugurated the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, the Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, and the complete solarisation of Dhordo village, among others.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation of LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects, including expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways.