Government of India will increase coastal shipping to 10 percent by 2020 in modal cargo
Q. Government will be increasing the share of coastal shipping to what percent in the modal cargo by 2020?- Published on 19 Jul 16a. 10
b. 9
c. 10.5
d. 9.5
ANSWER: 10
Government of India is planning to increase the share of coastal shipping to 10 percent in the modal cargo mix by 2020, reducing the toll on rails and roads.
- Share of waterways transportation mode in the modal cargo mix is around 7 percent now.
- Government envisions increasing the share of coastal shipping in modal cargo mix to 10 percent by 2020 from the current share so as to lower dependance on rail and road sectors for domestic cargo transportation.
- Government has also provided in-principle approvable for setting up of 4 new ports in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- India has 12 major ports under the control of the Centre besides 205 non-major ports under the state government/UT.
- Percentage share of cargo handled by major ports in 2015-2016 stood at 56.5 percent as against 43.5 percent by non major ports.
- Government’s recent estimate has indicated promotion of coastal shipping of six commodities resulting in annual saving of INR 40,000 crore.
- Sagarmala project aims to double the share of coastal and inland waterways in transport.
- Government can expand port capacity, build new ports and ports in relation to industrial and manufacturing clusters as well.
