Bhubaneswar, May 6: Minister of Commerce & Transport, Planning & Convergence Padmanabh Behera today demanded establishment of a Maritime University in Odisha.

Behera raised the demand during the meeting of the National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) held today at New Delhi.

“Maritime transport is extremely important for both economic and cultural development. 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value moves through maritime transport, which shows the importance of ports and their contribution in sustaining the growth of the Indian economy. Keeping on the future scenario of Odisha, establishment of Maritime University is felt necessary to facilitate and promote maritime studies, training and research. The Government of Odisha would request to examine and help in establishing this for future development of the maritime sector in the whole east coast of our country,” said Behera.

Odisha, a principal maritime state, has a coastline of about 480 kms. The Government of Odisha has already identified 14 potential sites for development of non-major ports. In a bid to facilitate development of non-major ports, Odisha government has also framed the Port Policy during the year 2004.

The meeting of the NSAC held was chaired by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush.

NSAC is the apex body providing policy directions and guidance for port led development-Sagarmala projects and reviews its implementation. The NSAC was constituted in 2015 by the Union Cabinet and is chaired by Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways.