AHMEDABAD, SEP 20 : Calling it a “historic reform,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that large ships will now be officially recognized as infrastructure \u2014 a move that will ease financing, lower interest rates, and empower Indian shipping companies to compete globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also announced three new schemes worth Rs 70,000 crore to: Modernize shipyards, adopt cutting-edge technologies and upgrade design and quality standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reinforcing his mantra \u2014 \u201cChips or ships, made in India\u201d \u2014 Modi introduced a \u2018One Nation, One Document\u2019 and \u2018One Nation, One Port Process\u2019, scrapping outdated colonial-era laws and streamlining trade and port operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calling India\u2019s coastlines \u201cgateways to national prosperity,\u201d Modi emphasized that peace, stability, and global growth depend on India\u2019s self-reliance. He asserted, \u201cChips or ships, we must make them in India.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Capping the day with a massive development push, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 34,200 crore at the \u2018Samudra se Samriddhi\u2019 event, giving Gujarat\u2019s Bhavnagar a major boost as a maritime hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modi declared, \u201cIndia\u2019s coastlines will become gateways to national prosperity,\u201d and warned that the country\u2019s greatest enemy today is not an external force, but dependence on other nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndia has no major enemy in the world, but our biggest adversary is dependence on others. Greater dependence leads to greater national failure,\u201d Modi said, urging people to embrace Atmanirbharta (self-reliance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modi revealed the staggering financial loss India incurs due to reliance on foreign shipping. He said India pays $75 billion (Rs 6 lakh crore) annually to foreign shipping companies \u2014 nearly equivalent to the country\u2019s defence budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf previous governments had invested in our shipping sector, the world today would be using Indian ships, and India would be earning lakhs of crores,\u201d he said, blaming past regimes for reducing India\u2019s shipping share from 40% to just 5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Describing shipbuilding as the \u201cMother of All Industries,\u201d Modi said its revival would generate a ripple effect across sectors such as: Steel, machinery, electronics, textiles, information technology and MSMEs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that every rupee invested in shipbuilding would generate double the return, and that 100 shipyard jobs would create 600 additional jobs in supporting industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citing progress over the past decade, Modi noted that India has built over 40 ships and submarines, including the INS Vikrant, underscoring the nation\u2019s capabilities and political will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gujarat featured prominently in Modi\u2019s maritime roadmap. He announced that 40% of India\u2019s sea cargo already flows through Gujarat\u2019s ports. These ports will soon be linked to the Dedicated Freight Corridor, accelerating cargo movement. The Alang Ship Breaking Yard, a global hub, is generating massive employment. Gujarat\u2019s coastline is setting benchmarks for port-led growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modi also highlighted recent developments in other states and said that India\u2019s first deep-water container trans-shipment port in Kerala has begun operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, with an investment of Rs 75,000 crore, will rank among the world\u2019s top 10 ports, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently handling 10% of global maritime trade, India aims to triple this share by 2047, Modi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also noted the rise in Indian seafarers \u2014 from 1.25 lakh to over 3 lakh in the past decade \u2014 placing India among the top three suppliers of maritime professionals globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To honor India\u2019s ancient maritime legacy, Modi announced the development of a world-class maritime museum at Lothal, akin to how the Statue of Unity symbolizes national pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concluding his speech, Modi urged citizens to support indigenous products and encouraged shopkeepers to display signs reading: \u201cSay with pride, this is Swadeshi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery festival should become a celebration of India\u2019s prosperity,\u201d he said, wishing the nation a joyous Navratri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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