Government Pledges to Enhance Maritime Education: Sarbananda Sonowal
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Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation for a new girls' hostel and inaugurated several infrastructure projects at Indian Maritime University, aiming to bolster maritime education and facilities across six campuses.
Key Takeaways
- Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for a new girls' hostel.
- Investment of Rs 67.77 crore for infrastructure development.
- New facilities include simulators and solar power plants.
- Focus on improving quality of academic and residential experiences.
- IMU is the leading institution for maritime education in India.
Kochi, April 8 (IANS) The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday, inaugurated the groundwork for a girls' hostel building and virtually launched infrastructure development initiatives across six campuses of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) to enhance maritime education and infrastructure.
The initiatives, with a total projected expenditure of Rs 67.77 crore, were revealed during a ceremony he presided over at the IMU campus in Kochi.
Among the prominent initiatives is a new girls' hostel at IMU Kochi, for which Sonowal laid the foundation stone.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 13.11 crore, this facility will greatly enhance living accommodations for female maritime students.
At the same time, the Minister also virtually inaugurated various infrastructure projects across five IMU campuses - Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Port, and Visakhapatnam.
These projects include the installation of cutting-edge simulators, the setup of solar power plants, enhancements to sports facilities, and the renovation of student hostels - all designed to elevate the quality of both academic and residential experiences.
In his address, Sonowal reaffirmed the Union government’s commitment to revolutionizing maritime education in India by offering world-class infrastructure and training settings.
"These 17 projects represent a pivotal advancement in our objective to fortify India’s maritime education landscape. With modern infrastructure and sophisticated facilities, we are empowering students to thrive and align with global maritime standards," he stated.
Subsequently, an interactive session was held to discuss the future of maritime education, innovations in training, and the strategy for ongoing infrastructure development across IMU campuses.
The Indian Maritime University is a public central university directly overseen by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. It serves as the national institution for maritime education, commercial shipping, marine engineering, and maritime administration, established by the Indian Maritime University Act 2008, on November 14, 2008.
Prior to the establishment of the IMU, there were seven distinct teaching and research institutes under the Ministry of Shipping, which were integrated into it upon its formation. It stands as India's esteemed institution for the training of Merchant Navy officers.
