Union Government Committed to Modernizing Maritime Education, Says Sarbananda Sonowal

KOCHI:
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for girls hostel building and virtually inaugurated infrastructure development projects across six campuses of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) for the upgradation of maritime Education and Infrastructure. The projects, with a total estimated cost of Rs 67.77 crore, were announced during a ceremony held at the IMU campus in Kochi.

Among the key projects is a new girls’ hostel at IMU Kochi, for which Sonowal laid the foundation stone in person. Developed at a cost of Rs 13.11 crore, the facility will significantly improve residential accommodation for female maritime students.

Simultaneously, the Minister also virtually inaugurated several infrastructure projects across five IMU campuses—Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Port, and Visakhapatnam. These include the installation of state-of-the-art simulators, establishment of solar power plants, enhancement of sports facilities, and renovation of student hostels—all aimed at boosting the quality of both academic and residential experiences.

The ceremony also witnessed the presence of Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) representing Ernakulam, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Sunil Mukundan, MD, INdia Ports Global, B Kasiviswanathan, IRSME, Chairperson, Dr. Malini V. Shankar, Vice Chancellor of IMU; and other senior officials and stakeholders from the maritime education sector.

Addressing the gathering, Sonowal reiterated the Union Government’s resolve to transform maritime education in India by providing world-class infrastructure and training environments.

“These 17 projects mark a significant step in our mission to strengthen India’s maritime education landscape. With modern infrastructure and advanced facilities, we are enabling students to excel and meet global maritime standards,” he said.

The event concluded with an interactive session featuring discussions on the future of maritime education, innovation in training, and the roadmap for continued infrastructure development across IMU campuses.