Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagged off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat on 8 November 2020.
The Ro-Pax service between Hazira and Ghogha will provide better connectivity and reduce the journey time from 10-12 hours to three to four hours.
Around 80,000 passenger trains and 30,000 trucks will be able to take advantage of this new service in a year. Fruits, vegetables and milk can now easily be transported and pollution will also be reduced due to this service.
The government is making efforts to modernise the entire ecosystem of the coastal area in addition to developing physical infrastructure. The state accounted for more than 40 percent of the country's total maritime trade in 2019.
Apart from this, many facilities are getting ready in the state such as Gujarat Maritime Cluster, Gujarat Maritime University and the country’s first CNG Terminal at Bhavnagar.
Gujarat Maritime Cluster ports to be built in GIFT city will be a dedicated system to address ports to sea-based logistics. These clusters would help in strengthening cooperation between the government, industry and educational institutions and also help in value addition in this sector.
In addition to facilities like Ro-Ro terminal at Bhavnagar port, a liquid cargo terminal and a new container terminal are being prepared. With the addition of these new terminals, the capacity of Bhavnagar port will increase manifold. The government is making efforts to restart the ferry service between Ghogha-Dahej soon.
Moreover, under the Sagarmala project, work is underway on over 500 projects across the country. Also, work is underway in inland rivers across the country to connect many land-locked states to the sea.
The Prime Minister renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The cost of logistics will be reduced by water transport.