Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, visited Mumbai and Palghar in Maharashtra on 30th August 2024.
During his visit, he participated in the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects at CIDCO Ground in Palghar.
Key Highlights of PM’s Visit to Maharashtra
PM Laid Foundation Stone of Vadhavan Port in Palghar, Maharashtra
PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Vadhavan Port, near Dahanu town in Palghar district, Maharashtra. The estimated budget of this project is around Rs 76,000 crore.
- The project aims to set up a world-class maritime gateway that will promote India’s trade and economic growth by catering to large container vessels, facilitating deeper drafts, and accommodating ultra-large cargo ships.
Key People:
Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, CP Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnvis and Ajit Pawar, Deputy CMs of Maharashtra; and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) were present during the event.
Background:
i.In June 2024, the union cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the development of Vadhavan Port as India’s 13th Major Port.
ii.On 16th August 2024, the union cabinet approved a 32-km long road connecting the proposed Vadhavan Port to the National Highway (NH)-48.
About Vadhavan Port:
i.It will be one of India’s largest deep-water ports. It will be developed as an all-weather Greenfield deep draft major port and will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, thus, reducing both transit times and costs.
ii.It will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), an Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), with a shareholding of 74% and 26% respectively.
iii.The proposed Vadhavan Port will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure.
iv.It will feature deep berths, efficient cargo handling facilities, and modern port management systems.
Significance:
i.It is expected to generate 12 lakh job opportunities, promote local businesses, and contribute to the overall development of the region.
ii.The Vadhavan Port project includes sustainable development practices with main objective of minimizing environmental impact and adhering to stringent ecological standards.
- Further, the port will help to enhance India’s maritime connectivity and bolsters its position as global trade hub.
PM Inaugurated & Laid Foundation Stone of 218 Fisheries Projects
PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 218 fisheries projects worth around Rs 1,560 crore in Palghar district, Maharashtra. This aims to strengthen the fisheries sector infrastructure and productivity across India..
- These initiatives are expected to generate over 5 lakh job opportunities in the fisheries sector.
Other Key Initiatives for Fisheries Sector:
i.PM Modi also launched the National Roll Out of Vessel Communication and Support system with total budget outlay of around Rs 360 crore.
- Under this initiative, 1 lakh transponders will be installed in a phased manner on mechanized and motorized fishing vessels in 13 coastal States and Union Territories (UTs).
- The vessel communication and support system is a technology developed indigenously by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will help in setting up two-way communication while fishermen are at sea and also help in rescue the safety of our fishermen.
ii.PM inaugurated other initiatives which included the development of fishing harbours and Integrated Aquaparks, along with them, adoption of advanced technologies such as the Recirculatory Aquaculture System and Biofloc were also launched.
- These projects will be implemented across various states to provide critical infrastructure and high-quality inputs to enhance fish production, improve post-harvest management, and create sustainable livelihoods for millions involved in the fisheries sector.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone for important fishery infrastructure projects like: development, upgradation and modernization of fishing harbours, fish landing centers and construction of fish markets.
PM Modi Addressed 5th Global Fintech Festival in Mumbai
PM Modi addressed a special session at the 5th Global Fintech Festival (GFF 2024) held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Theme GFF 2024: “Blueprint for the Next Decade of Finance: Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Inclusive | Resilient”.
i.The GFF 2024 held from 28th to 30th August 2024, was jointly organised by the Payments Council of India (PCI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC).
ii.The event witnessed the participation of around 800 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, senior bankers, among other from India and various other countries across 300 sessions.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Eknath Shinde
Governor- CP Radhakrishnan,
National Parks (NPs) –Sanjay Gandhi National Park (NP), Chandoli NP
