Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Union Shipping Ministry for establishing the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC).

NTCPWC will work to modernise Indian ports and fast-track waterways under the Centre’s Sagarmala project, an initiative for port-led infrastructure.

Foundation laid

Laying the foundation for NTCPWC, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said port is an emerging sector important for economic development and creating job opportunities.

There are 12 major ports and 200 minor ports with waterway networks of about 20,000 km. Of ₹15 lakh crore investments allocated for port-led infrastructure development, ₹4 lakh crore have been allocated for port, road and rail connectivity and port modernisation. There are also plans for establishing industrial clusters in ports, for which innovation and technology are the key.

Gadkari said institutions such as IITM that can translate technical knowledge into practical solutions play an important role in such projects.

₹70-cr investment

The Centre has invested cslose to ₹70 crore in the technology centre, which will come up on IIT-M’s second campus in Thaiyur.

Major components of the technology centre are technology development, modelling and software products, bridge simulator and testing facilities with the focus on three areas – research and development, manpower training and technical training.

The master planning for the centre is completed and the construction is expected to start by June. The eight major port projects handled by the Ocean Engineering department of IITM will be moved to NTCPWC by March 2019.

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