Kolkata, 17 October (H.S.): The Central government is developing a world-class inland ship repair and maintenance network to strengthen India’s inland waterways and achieve self-reliance in the maritime sector, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur said on Friday.

Thakur said India is moving towards making its inland waterway system fully operational without depending on coastal docks or foreign facilities. As part of this initiative, two new Ship Repair Facilities (SRFs) have been established on the Ganga (National Waterway-1) at Patna and Varanasi, while another is being developed at Pandu (Guwahati) to serve the Brahmaputra (NW-2) and Barak (NW-16) rivers.

“Ship repair facilities are no longer just about technical investment — they are catalysts for economic transformation,” Thakur said. “Our goal is to ensure that India’s waterways are fully capable of maintaining and repairing vessels without relying on coastal or overseas support.”

The minister added that these facilities will reduce vessel turnaround time, generate employment, enhance technical skills, and promote MSME participation in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and the northeastern states.

The projects are being implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The facilities at Patna and Varanasi are now fully operational and capable of handling maintenance for both cargo vessels and passenger boats.

Thakur described the upcoming SRF at Pandu as a “strategic game-changer” for the Northeast, which will boost regional trade and connectivity with neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Bhutan. “This initiative aligns with our ‘Act East’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policies, promoting cross-border commerce and regional cooperation,” he said.

The minister further stated that the initiative is also being expanded at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), which has strengthened technical collaboration with leading firms such as Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

SMPK has allotted 128 acres of land at Jellingham near Medinipur to Aatrey Shypyard Pvt. Ltd. for dry docking, ship repair, and related activities, significantly enhancing the port’s long-term capacity.

Thakur said the programme builds on the existing multimodal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia developed under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP), with the broader aim of creating a self-reliant inland shipping ecosystem encompassing shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair entirely within India.

He emphasized that the facilities are designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating waste management, water recycling, and energy-efficient systems to support the Prime Minister’s vision of a “Blue Economy.”

Under the government’s “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,” Thakur said the objective is to position India among the world’s top five maritime powers by developing a complete value chain covering ship design, construction, repair, and recycling.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh