Kandla: Following are the Gujarat related highlights of Union Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari’s address at Kandla Port function in Gujarat today in presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

-Rs 1800 crore port profit went up to Rs 4,000 crore last year and this year it will be Rs 5,000 crore thanks to direction given by PM.

-In 2014 we had only 100 mt capacity at our ports. PM asked us to focus and work upon for increased capacity. We have increased 266 mt capacity.

-We used to handle less than 50 lakh tonne cargo three years ago. Today our cargo handling capacity has increased by 660 lakh tonne.

-We are proved to be more superior than private port when it comes to efficiency.

-40 projects under Sagarmala programme are taking place in Gujarat they are worth Rs 1 lakh crore. Edible oil, chemicals, containers, fertilizers, timber are the sectors covered. We will do research and ensure employment to locals for the development of local art and other inherent capabilities such as ceramic industry.

-PM had insisted that development of just ports is not enough, there should be smart cities there. We have planned 1500 acre smart city here with Rs 10,000 crore investment potential and 50,000 direct employment opportunity.

-We have set up 6 mw wind power generation facility at Amreli.

-We have arranged training for workers at Alang, we have given a coastal jetty at Navi Nal. We are building fishing harbor at Veraval and Mangrol.

-At present, with the permission of the State government, fishermen can travel upto 11 nautical mile for fishing. We have made a scheme that they can go upto 30-40 nautical mile in trawler.

-We have started working on Lothal shipping history maritime museum that PM had suggested to set up. The Gujarat govt has given us land and extending cooperation.

-We have made beautiful design for sea bridge connecting Bet Dwarka and Dwarka. We request the Prime Minister to kick off the works for this bridge on his next visit to Gujarat.

-We are building Cruise tourism terminals. One such terminal can be in Kandla so that tourist can come to Gujarat via Kandla.

DeshGujarat