Lok Sabha Question No. 3593 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Vision Document
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3593 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23rd MARCH, 2017 VISION DOCUMENT

†3593. SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE: SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

## पोतप�रवहनमंत्

- (a) whether the Government proposes to prepare any vision document on the development of coastal shipping and tourism in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the present status thereof; and
- (c) the extent to which this vision document has been implemented along with the progress achieved thereunder so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Shipping  has  prepared  a  vision  document  for  "Coastal Shipping,  Tourism  and  Regional  Development"  which  envisages  increasing  the  share  of  Coastal/ Inland  Water  transportation,  development  of  coastal  shipping  as  part  of  end  to  end  logistic  supply chain,  integration  of  inland  waterways  with  coastal  routes,  development  of  infrastructure  for  cruise terminals and developing lighthouses for tourism.

(b)&(c):To  implement  the  vision  document,  the  Government  has  taken  the  following  steps  for promotion of coastal shipping and tourism:

(i)  moderating  manning  and  technical  requirements  for  vessels  operating  within  Indian  territorial waters  through  a  river  sea  vessel  notification;  (ii)  declaring  the  inland  vessel  limits  for  facilitating coastal  trade  operations;  (iii)  issuing  coastal  shipping  rules  for  coastal  vessels  operating  within  20 miles off the coast; (iv) exempting customs and Central Excise duty on bunker fuels (IFO 180 and IFO 380 CST) by Indian flagged coastal container vessels; (v) bringing abatement of service tax at 70% for  coastal  shipping  at  par  with  road  and  rail;  (vi)  simplification  of  customs  procedures  (vii) launching a Central Sector Scheme for construction of exclusive berths for coastal vessels providing assistance up to 50% of the total cost of the project subject to maximum of Rs 25 crores (viii) charging the  wharfage  on  per  unit  basis,  instead  of  on ad  volarem basis,  to  promote  transportation  of automobiles  (ix) increasing the discount on port charges for Ro-Ro ships by major ports from 40% to 80% for two years w.e.f. 20 th September, 2016. (x)  cabotage has been relaxed for Roll-on-Roll-off vessels, Hybrid Roll-On-Off, Ro-RO-cum-Passengers, Pure Car Carriers, Pure Car and Truck Carriers etc. (xi) as part of the National Perspective Plan of SagarmalaProgramme, additional coastal shipping potential of 115-120 MMTPAby 2025 has been identified for various cargo types (coal, petrol, oil & lubricant,  steel,  cement  and  fertilizer  etc).    (xii)Central  Financial  Assistance  is  extended  by  the Ministry of Tourism to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central agencies for the development  of  tourism  infrastructure  including  infrastructure  related  to  development  of  Cruise Tourism.  (xiii)  SwadeshDarshan  Scheme  for  Integrated  Development  of  Tourist  Circuits  around Specific Themes has been launched by Ministry of Tourism. Coastal Circuit has been identified as one minals  have  been  constructed  at  Mormugao  and  Chennai Ports.(xv)  Standardised Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling cruise vessels and passengers have been implemented. (xvi) The major ports provide a minimum rebate of 30% across the board on all port  charges  and  for  cruise  vessels.  (xvii)  78  lighthouses  have  been  identified  for  development  of tourism on Public Private Partnership mode.

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