NEW DELHI:: welcoming the world to come to India and be a part of the country's growth trajectory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that India aims to operationalize 23 waterways by 2030. He further said that India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerging as a leading Blue Economy of the world.

Speaking on the occasion of 'Maritime India Summit 2021' through video conferencing, PM Modi said through the focus areas of up-gradation of infrastructure, boosting reform journey in the maritime sector, India aims to strengthen the vision of 'Aatamnirbhar Bharat'.

He asserted that "ours is a government that is investing in waterways in a way that was never seen before." "Domestic waterways are found to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways of transporting freight. We aim to operationalize 23 waterways by 2030." He noted that instead of a piecemeal approach focus is on the entire sector as one and informed that the capacity of major ports have increased from 870 million tonnes in 2014 to 1,550 million tonnes now.

Modi also informed that mega ports with world-class infrastructure are being developed in Vadhavan, Paradip and Deendayal Port in Kandla in Gujarat.

Indian ports now have measures such as Direct port Delivery, Direct Port Entry and an upgraded Port Community System (PCS) for easy data flow. Our ports have reduced waiting time for inbound and outbound cargo. He further pointed out that India has as many as 189 lighthouses across its vast coastline.

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