Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the foundation ceremony of the proposed Rs 4,000-Crore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Sheva yesterday. He also laid the foundation of the port connectivity highway project worth Rs 1926.570 crore that will connect NH-4B, Amra Marg and SH-54 with a six to eight-lane road.

Narendra Modi hands an allotment certificate to a project-affected person in the presence of CM Prithviraj Chavan (right)

The Ministry of Shipping has executed this project on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode through the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

Modi also distributed land allotment certificates to the Project Affected People (PAP), who will be given 12.5 per cent of the acquired land.

“The manufacturing sector and industries are extremely important, as it generates millions of employment opportunities,” Modi stressed, highlighting the need to strengthen the country’s shipbuilding industry. “It has the potential to provide employment opportunities to the lowest class of labourers,” he added.

In addition, the Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of JNPT and the state government for coming up with such a far sighted project. He also emphasised on the utilisation of the abundant sea coast. “The development of these ports will take the economy to new heights,” he said.

The proposed SEZ project is slated to be completed in three years, while the highway project will be finished by 2017. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister of the State, Prithviraj Chavan and Governor of Maharashtra K Shankaranarayanan were also present at the event.