Panaji: State govt has decided to identify new business opportunities and investment in port infrastructure, passenger terminals, inland water transport, waterfront facilities, logistics infrastructure, cruise and coastal tourism, and ship repair and shipbuilding facilities.State govt had decided to appoint a project management unit (PMU) to provide the captain of ports (CoP) department with timely access to specialised technical, financial, legal, environmental and commercial expertise, to facilitate efficient project planning and implementation.A senior govt official said that PMU has to develop and implement strategies to identify new business opportunities to attract investments and create revenue streams for the CoP and identify investment sources for the projects through grants from schemes, loans, interest subventions, equity share, partnerships, and private investments.“This initiative will support govt in accelerating maritime infrastructure development, attracting investment, improving service delivery, and achieving a sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive maritime sector aligned with national and state development objectives,” the official said.Goa, with its strategic coastline, occupies a significant position in India’s maritime sector and plays an important role in coastal shipping, inland water transport, fisheries, tourism, logistics, and port-led economic development, he said.He also said that CoP is the nodal authority responsible for the regulation, development, management, and promotion of maritime activities within the state, including minor ports, inland waterways, navigational safety, coastal transport, maritime infrastructure, and associated regulatory functions.In line with the Centre’s vision for port-led development, CoP is undertaking a series of initiatives to modernise and strengthen Goa’s maritime ecosystem through the development of port infrastructure, passenger terminals, inland water transport, waterfront facilities, logistics infrastructure, cruise and coastal tourism, ship repair and shipbuilding facilities, maritime safety systems, green and sustainable maritime infrastructure, and other strategic projects under PPP, EPC, hybrid annuity, and other suitable implementation models, he said.“The CoP has identified a pipeline of priority projects for implementation under Sagarmala 2.0, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) funding, the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and other Central and state govt programmes,” he said.He also said that the initiatives aim to improve multimodal connectivity, enhance logistics efficiency, promote sustainable economic growth, strengthen maritime safety and security, encourage private sector participation, and position Goa as a leading maritime hub on the west coast of India.“Considering the increasing scale and complexity of these projects, CoP decided to appoint a PMU to provide end-to-end professional advisory services,” he said.
