Port Blair, Oct 6: The Union Home Minister, Mr.Rajnath Singh and the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Mr.NitinGadkari inaugurated the Sea Route to Baratang Island, at a function held at Dr. BR Ambedkar Auditorium here this evening. They also laid the Foundation Stone for the Extension of New Dry Dock, Port Blair, Extension of Wharf, Hope Town, Construction of Additional Jetty & Extension of Berthing Jetty, Neil Island during this function.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr.HansrajGangaramAhir, the Lt Governor, A&N Islands, Prof JagdishMukhi, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Mr.BishnuPada Ray, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr.AnindoMajumdar, State President, BJP, Mr. Vishal Jolly, Adhyaksh, ZPSA, Mr.Jaydeep Kumar Dey, Chairperson PBMC, Mr. IP Singh, officers from the Defence and Civil Administration besides general public were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the huge gathering on this occasion, the Union Home Minister, Mr.Rajnath Singh said, under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Mr.NarendraModi, the country is growing at a faster pace and is among the top 10 economies of the world currently. He further stated that with the current growth rate, India would soon become one of the top three economies of the world by the year 2025-30. He also mentioned that India’s economy is of two trillion dollar, out of which ‘Blue Economy’ contributes to about one trillion dollar. “We want to develop India as an economic power”, he said.
The Home Minister also disclosed that during the Home Minister’s Advisory Committee Meeting held at New Delhi recently, various issues pertaining to the Islands were discussed and sorted out. The remaining issues, he said, will also be looked into in the coming days.
The Home Minister lauded the Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Mr.NitinGadkari for his concerted efforts towards strengthening the infrastructure in the Shipping, Road, Transport and Port sectors. He said, to strengthen the seaways of the Islands, umpteen numbers of projects have been initiated under the Ministry of Shipping and with the strengthening of this sector, the Islands will be benefitted to a great extent.
The Union Home Minister also stated that both development and security aspects of the country are given utmost importance. Stating that the geographical location of the country is vast, with a coastline of 7300 kilometers, hence security management is vital. “Erecting walls and boundaries will not provide any security to the country, our strength lies in the sea and air which need to be strengthened”, he added. The Minister expressed happiness that by October 29, 2017, 3 more direct flights between Delhi and Port Blair will start their services daily which will further improve air connectivity to the A& N Islands. The Home Minister also informed the gathering that while there was only one National Highway in the A&N Islands before 2014, today within a span of 3 yrs, there are 7 NHs, which is not a small achievement.
Outlying the details of the projects to come up in the country as well as the Islands, the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Mr.NitinGadkari said, Shipping sector has immense potential and under the Sagarmala Project, various development oriented projects viz. shipping, water ways, ports and roads have been initiated. The major problem of A&N Islands is that it does not have a ship repair yard and due to this, the ships had to be repaired in mainland and other countries.
The Minister said, a total of Rs16 lakh crores investment has been made under Sagarmala Project, of which Rs 4 lakh crores has been earmarked towards Ports – Rail – Road connectivity and modernization of 12 Major Ports of the country. Apart from this, strengthening of 3 major shipyards viz. Shipping Corporation of India, Cochin Shipyard & Goa Shipyard have also been taken up. He said, this year, a whopping amount of Rs. 7000 crores has been made as profit in the shipping sector compared to 4000 crore and 5000 crore in the previous years. The Minister further added that the Shipping sector has a huge potential for investment and called upon the private players to invest in this sector, as this will create employment opportunities and revenue generation.
The Minister also informed that 111 rivers have been included in the waterways project and in the days to come, 7 more waterways projects are likely to commence. He said, strengthening of waterways is important as the logistic cost is less and it is a convenient mode of transportation. Import of coal incurs huge expenditure and hence, efforts are on to switch from coal-generated power to methanol-generated power, as it is cost effective, import substitute and pollution free.
Speaking about power generation in A&N Islands, the Minister said that diesel generated power in the Islands causes environmental pollution and needs to be replaced. As such, eco friendly mode of power generation viz. solar, wind, tidal wave energy can be explored which will be pollution free and cost effective. As a step towards curbing pollution caused by diesel generated power, plans are also being made to set up LNG & CNG based power in the Islands soon.
The Minister further stated that the focus of the Ministry is to augment the facility of Dry Port, which will facilitate shipbuilding and ship repairing here in the Islands. Once the dry port is set up, the shipping industry will flourish and generate employment opportunities as well as generate huge revenue to the Islands, which will ultimately boost the Islands’ economy, said the Minister.
As a means to give further fillip to tourism sector, the Minister disclosed that an amphibious bus, which can ply on both road and water, has been launched in Mumbai and the same can also be initiated in the Islands too. He called upon the private entrepreneurs to come forward and invest in this sector and assured that his Ministry will extend all possible help and support. The Minister further stated that under the Sagarmala project, about 12 lakhs crore investment for port-led infrastructure has been earmarked and this ultimately will generate more employment.
The Minister said, Tourism could further be boosted through Sagarmala Project, which will ultimately generate employment. He also informed about the cruise terminal, which has been set up at Mumbai to facilitate tourists, and is likely to come up in various other places too. Similarly, cruise tourism can also be developed in the Islands, connecting it with other parts of the country, he said. The Minister also informed that a 500-seater catamaran cruise is likely to be inducted into service, which will connect Mumbai to Goa. He said, under the Sagarmala Project, the Ministry is focusing on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made in India’ programmes. Efforts are on to bring in new technology for manufacturing ships in the country. Similarly, the Minister informed that in order to boost ‘blue economy’, the Ministry is also encouraging deep sea fishing beyond 12 nautical miles, under which fishermen in a group of 5 to 10 with an amount of Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs will be provided a trawler of Rs 1 crore for deep sea fishing purpose. The Minister stressed the need to give impetus to ‘blue economy’ which has a huge potential and can generate huge income and employment to the Islanders. Under ‘Blue Economy’, fish processing & fish export can be set up in the Islands, thus paving way for more economic investment in this sector, he said.
Speaking about shipping sector, the Minister said, most of the ships in A&N Islands are old and need to be replaced. Accordingly, new ships are being built to meet the needs of the Islanders and once these ships are inducted into services, they will further strengthen the sea connectivity of these Islands. He said, few ships would be joining the existing fleet this year while another 14 ships will be added by 2020.
Apart from this, the A&N Administration has placed orders for 25 new ships. As an interim measure, the A&N Administration along with ALHW has inducted a 386-pax capacity ship, MV Bharat Seema into service besides MV Coral Queen has been chartered to give its services in the Islands.
The Minister also informed that Rs 2000 crores has been sanctioned for development of ports in A&N Islands. The Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned Rs. 63.55 Crore for purchase of two tugs for better and safe berthing of ships. Under Sagarmala Project, three visions have been outline for the A&N Islands. Under this, Rs. 17 crore has been sanctioned for development of port at Port Blair while Rs. 15 crore for development of port at Havelock. Apart from this Rs. 7 crore has been earmarked for cargo jetty at Havelock. The fund will be provided by Govt. of India.
Under the Ministry of waterways, the Minister said, the height of the Khudirampur Dam at Diglipur, near Kalpong river will be increased to 14 mtrs and length to 130 meters. This will solve the water problem of the people of the area. Apart from this the height of KamsaratNallah Dam will be extended upto 140 mtrs which will benefit 10 villages of the area.
The Minister further informed that the Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 2000 crores for construction of Bambooflat Bridge. The DPR for this project will be done in 3 months and tender will be floated in 4 months’ time.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Home, Mr.HansrajGangaramAhir called it an auspicious occasion as so many projects are been implemented and inaugurated in these Islands. “Earlier known as Kalapani, the A&N Islands are today the most beautiful place. It is also a place of pilgrimage as many sons of the country were incarcerated in the cellular Jail of the Islands during the freedom movement,” he said. Mr.Ahir reiterated the commitment of the Central Govt. towards the development of A&N Islands and said, many more developmental projects will be initiated for these Islands in the coming days too. The Minister also stated that other alternative sources of energy including the wind power should be initiated in these Isles. The Home Ministry is concerned about the security as well as the development of the entire country, including the A&N Islands.
Speaking on this occasion, the Lt Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. JagdishMukhi expressed happiness that the foundation for works like extension of Neil Jetty, Baratang Jetty, Extension of Dry Dock Port Blair and also of the Hope Town Wharf were laid today. Shipping Services plays an important role in the development of the Islands, he said.
The A&N Islands has ample scope for tourism & fisheries industries and such industries will help the Isles become self-reliant. Developing the port infrastructure in the Isles will further strengthen the tourism sector here, he said adding that altogether, projects worth Rs. 10000 core will come up in the Islands in the coming years.
Speaking about the Baratang sea route that was inaugurated today, the Lt. Governor said, it is a beautiful route and the journey from Port Blair to Baratang will be covered within one and half hours. Opening of this alternative sea route is in line with the direction of the Supreme Court.
About the Tourism sector, the Lt. Governor said, this year tourism in A&N Islands grew by a whopping 40% as compared to the 9% growth during the previous year. He also mentioned that three new direct flights between Port Blair and New Delhi will start operating w.e.f Oct 29, on a daily basis.
Expressing happiness over the foundation stone laying for the construction of Neil Jetty and extension of the berthing Jetty at Neil Island, the Lt Governor said, this will facilitate berthing of more than one vessel at a time while bigger vessels will also be able to berth there. This will further benefit the people of the Islands as well as the tourists and will further boost development of tourism in Neil Island. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for implementing these projects, which will benefit the Islanders to a great extent.
Expressing his views, the Member of Parliament, Mr.BishnuPada Ray expressed gratitude to the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways for initiating many developmental projects for the A&N Islands in the last three years. Earlier, he also informed the gathering about various projects like the Uttarabridge which will be 18 mtrs wide, construction of roads in different parts of the Islands besides the projects that will be taken up in the coming days. He informed that Neil, Havelock and Little Andaman have been declared National Highways. He stated that both road and boat services will connect Port Blair and Diglipur. He also informed about the LNG based powerhouse to be set up in the Islands and also highlighted the need of construction of terminal buildings in the ports in these Isles and further development of port infrastructures. He also explained about granting 1/30th pay +DA to the eligible DRMs working in different Departments of the Administration. He also informed that airstrips at Diglipur and Campbell Bay have been extended from the existing 1 km to 3 km.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary, Mr.AnindoMajumdar while welcoming the august gathering, informed about projects for which foundations were being laid today.
Earlier, on arrival at the Veer Savarkar Airport at Port Blair, the Union Home Minister, Mr.Rajnath Singh, the Union Minister for Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways, Mr.NitinGadkari and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr.HansrajGangaramAhir were received by the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. JagdishMukhi, the Member of Parliament, Mr.BishnuPada Ray, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr.AnindoMajumdar, State President, BJP Mr. Vishal Jolly and other senior officers of the A&N Administration and BJP functionaries.
Soon after arrival, the Union Home Minister, Mr.Rajnath Singh Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highway, Mr.NitinGadkari, Minister of State for Homes Mr.HansrajGangaramAhir and the Lt. Governor, Prof. JagdishMukhi also visited the National Memorial Cellular Jail and laid wreath at the Martyrs’ Column there.
Tomorrow (Oct.6), the Union Ministers will visit Diglipur in the morning, where they will lay the Foundation Stone for Andaman Trunk Road and also address the gathering at a function to be held at Diglipur Stadium. Thereafter, the Union Ministers will reach Baratang and lay the Foundation Stone for Middle Strait and Humphrey Strait Bridges. They will also address the public at Forest Ground Baratang.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Chief Engineer & Administrator, ALHW, Mr. SV Madhbahvi.
