PM inaugurates Ropex Ferry service in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Gujarat's port industry is one of the largest in the world and makes the state a gateway to India via the sea. while inaugurating the Ropax Ferry Service between state’s Ghogha and Hazira on Sunday, The Ropax ferry will decrease the distance between Surat and Saurashtra from 317 km to 60 km and time taken has also decreased from 12 hours to four hours. Modi said that the Ropax Ferry Service will enhance ease of doing business and also decrease transportation costs. He said that maritime universities are a growing sector in the state given the size of its port industry and the connectivity boost given by the ferry service will impact everyone starting from traders to students.

He also said that the name of the Ministry of Shipping will be changed to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. He said all affairs related to shipping and waterways comes under the ambit of Ministry of Shipping and a change in name will bring clarity to the work the department is assigned to do. PM Modi said that the drive to developing waterways has been taken to decrease cost of logistics. He said the nation is aiming to develop a multimodal connectivity system following which cost of logistics can be lowered across the country.