We're Creating a System for Shipbuilding in India

The government is creating infrastructure, said Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in an interview at the Business Standard Infrastructure Summit in New Delhi. "We are creating a massive ecosystem," he told Business Standard's Shailesh Dobhal. Edited excerpts:

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Vadhavan in Maharashtra will be the biggest port in India, getting an investment of ₹76,000 crore. There's another port coming up in Nicobar as well. When do you think these ports will be completed?

The first phase [of Vadhavan port] is expected to be completed by 2029 and second by 2037; these are the two phases we have set as targets for construction. Vadhavan is the all-time biggest port after independence. Out of the port's activities, a city will be born. City means infrastructure, institutions, industry, employment opportunities — all kinds of ecosystems will come up. After the construction of Vadhavan port, we will be able to provide employment to 1.2 million people directly and indirectly. This is the power of port modernisation, capacity enhancement, operations, and port-created facilities.