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Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways identifies new routes for RO-RO, RO-PAX & Ferry Services.

Highlights

• Ministry  has been working continuously for the promotion of Coastal Shipping under Sagarmala Programme.
  
• The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing.
  
• MoPSW has identified Domestic locations namely Hazira, Okha, Somnath Temple, DIU, PIPAVAV, Dahej, Mumbai/JNPT, Jamnagar, Kochi, Ghogha, Goa, Mundra and Mandvi and 6 International routes.
  
• It connects 4 international destinations namely Chattogram (Bangladesh), Seychelles (East Africa) Madagascar (East Africa) and Jaffna (Sri Lanka) from Indian major coastal port towns for the commencement of ferry services through inland waterways.
• RO-PAX ferry service based on the localized demand to promote the supplementary and sustainable mode of the transportation 

The purpose is to

• Create a supplementary mode of transportation, which will not only be beneficial for the daily commuters, tourists’ movement and cargo transportation but also helpful in reducing carbon footprint by shifting to environment-friendly mode of transportation from rail and road.
• Provide impetus to the tourism industry
• Create job opportunities in the coastal regions
• Saving in terms of both cost and time for the users
• Decongest road and rail networks

Source: PIB