National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCWPC)

About National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCWPC):

• It is being set up under the Shipping Ministry’s flagship Sagarmala Programme.
• Location: It has been established in IIT – Discovery Campus at Chennai in Tamil Nadu at the cost of ₹77 crore.
• It works as the technology arm of the Ministry of Shipping and provides the needful technological support to ports, IWAI and other institutions.
• Mandate: To develop cutting-edge technologies and application products to provide solutions to various challenges faced by the Ports and Shipping Sector.
• It has world-class capabilities for undertaking 2D and 3D investigations of research and consultancy nature for the Port, Coastal, and Waterway sector across all disciplines.

What is Sagarmala Programme?

• It is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping.
• Objective:  To promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• It holds a vision to reduce logistics costs for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimal infrastructure investment.
• The projects under the scheme have been categorized into five pillars:
  • Port modernization & new port development;
  • Port connectivity enhancement;
  • Port-led industrialization;
  • Coastal community development;
  • Coastal shipping and Inland water transport

 

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Q1) What is the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)?

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) came into existence on 27th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grant received from Ministry of Shipping.

Source: National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts to be inaugurated on Monday