Towards progress and development: First of its kind ferry service launched in Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gujarat on 21st October, 2017 to launch a series of initiatives, giving an unprecedented push to the State’s development.
A landmark move during the Prime Minister’s visit was the inauguration of Phase 1 of the RO RO (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej. The ferry service is a first of its kind in South Asia and will reduce the travel time drastically between Ghogha in Saurashtra and Dahej in South Gujarat. The travel time has been reduced from eight hours to an hour. The 1st Phase will enable passenger movement and will also enable movement of vehicles (when fully operational). The ambitious project will also benefit the environment by reducing carbon dioxide by 40,794 tonnes a year. Offering a potential boost to tourism, the project is going to substantially reduce pressure on rail and road networks. Development projects at such a scale give rise to potential job opportunities and give an impetus to over-all progress and development.
The Prime Minister travelled on the maiden voyage of the service, from Ghogha to Dahej during which he was briefed about the ship as well as the ferry service. Addressing the gathering, he said that Gujarat has seen a lot of progress in the last three years. This progress is of great importance since the state has a long coastline and has a lot of potential. The opportunities of the coastal state are being realized and will go a long way in bringing holistic development to the nation.
He also elaborated that the ferry service will not be restricted to a single route and other places will also be linked through ferries. Addressing the growing developments in transport and connectivity throughout the country, he said the Union Government is focused towards making the transport sector integrated and state-of-the-art.
During the Gujarat visit, the Prime Minister announced a series of initiatives for the benefit of the state as well as the country. He dedicated the Vadodara City Command Control Centre, the Waghodiya Regional Water Supply Scheme, and the New Head Office Building of the Bank of Baroda to the people of the state.
At the event, he handed the keys of houses to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban, as well as Rural). Focusing on infrastructure and development projects, an integrated transport hub, regional water supply schemes, housing projects and a flyover were also announced. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the capacity expansion of the Mundra-Delhi petroleum product pipeline and a Greenfield marketing terminal project of HPCL, at Vadodara.
Affirming the Government’s focus on infrastructure, connectivity, accessibility, the Prime Minister said that the Government is clear about its priority being development for the nation, and the optimum use of resources to fulfil the dream of a New India.
