Ministry of Shipping renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

New Delhi, Nov 10: PM Narendra Modi has renamed the Ministry of Shipping to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways at the inaugural virtual event of Ro-Pax terminal at Surat’s Hazira. PM Modi flagged-off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat in the event. The ferry service between the two ports will reduce the distance of 370 km to 90 km by seat route and will eventually reduce the journey time from 10-12 hours to 3-4 hours.

 

While announcing the decision about the Ministry, PM Modi said that in most of the world's developed nations, the Ministry of Shipping handles both waterways and ports which is why the Ministry of Shipping in India too will henceforth be responsible for both the services. The PM also highlighted that the clarity in name of the ministry is essential to direct clarity in it's work.

 

Mansukh Mandaviya is currently the Union Minister of Shipping who will continue to take the charge of the newly named Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways as well. The Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were present in the virtual event.

 

The 'Ministry of Surface Transport' was divided into two new ministries of 'Ministry of Shipping' and 'Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' in Nov 2000. After that in Oct 2004, both the bifurcated ministries were merged again and renamed as 'Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways' with two separate functional departments of 'Department of Road transport and Highways' and 'Department of Shipping'.

 

In the year 2009, the Ministry of Shipping was founded again by dividing the two departments into separate ministries. Now the recent significant change in the ministry is the renaming of the 'Ministry of Shipping' to 'Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways', thereby extending it's work area.