Indian Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has said that the Ministry has prepared a scheme to offer subsidy to the shipbuilding industry, says Press Information Bureau of the government.
The proposal has been sent to the Cabinet Ministry for approval.
The government would open up a sub-centre of maritime university at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to cater to the three states — Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra — for which JSW has already allotted 200 acres of land.
He said by 2020, the maritime industry would provide jobs to over 65 million skilled labourers all over the world.
Gadkari said the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 50 crore to the Centre, which would provide training in the maritime industry.
The Union Minister also said the Government has prepared a new scheme worth Rs.400 crore to boost Inland Waterways. Under the Scheme the Government of India will give 50% subsidy to states to erect floating jetties while 50% of the cost will have to be borne by the states.
He said, for passenger jetties this subsidy will be Rs.10 crores while for container/ goods jetties the subsidy will be restricted to rupees twenty five crores.
The Union Minister said that the Union Government has decided to open up 7 new major ports in addition to 12 existing major ports, out of which one will be based in Bengal namely SAGAR PORT and the other will be in Dahanu in Maharashtra to be opened up jointly for Maharashtra and Kerala. He said the works on these two projects have already begun.