Panaji: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today proposed “optimising” the use of inland waterways through new ventures like sea planes and amphibious buses to bring down the dependability and burden on road transport.
“We should allow new ventures like sea planes, amphibious buses and even jetties by private hotels provided they will allow it to be used for public,” the Highways and Road and Shipping Minister said after laying the foundation stone for a new parallel bridge over Zuari river near here.
He said the Union ministry will subsidise the creation of jetties so that the inland waterways can be used to optimum level.
“We can even introduce electric buses near airports which will take the tourists to port and through ship they can go to their hotels. This will be a tourist attraction,” he said.
He said the government will support fishermen to fish outside the traditional limit of 12 nautical miles, where the fish catch is more.
“The jurisdiction of state is within 12 nautical miles where there is no fish and outside that limit the fishing is not happening. We have to bridge this disparity,” the minister said.
Gadkari said the government can purchase big trawlers and hand them over to fishermen cooperative societies.
“Every day, certain amount of profit can be kept with the government. Once the entire amount is paid the trawler can be owned by the society,” he said, adding that this move will help fishermen create more employment opportunities.