Grant infra status to shipbuilding sector

The Shipping Ministry has sought infrastructure status for the shipbuilding industry so as to provide impetus boost to the sector, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, said recently in New Delhi The Ministry also plans to start work on about Rs 2,400 crore projects for last mile connectivity to all 12 major ports, said Gadkari. ¨To promote domestic shipbuilding, I have urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to give infrastructure status to shipbuilding,¨ he said. Gadkari added that ¨work on 40 projects that include last mile connectivity projects and internal port rail projects will begin this year.¨ The 12 major ports in the country have nearly 612 km of internal rail network. The minister also said that though the major ports and Indian Railways have taken up many connectivity projects, there is an urgent need for focused attention and substantial allocation of resources.