Maritime academy dream may come true

The long wait for a maritime academy in Gujarat is likely to come to an end soon. If all goes well, the institute will come up soon in Vadodara.

A Vadodara-based educational trust is showing interest in establishing an 'International Maritime Residential Academy' at an investment of Rs 10 crore.

Such an institute will prove to be a great opening for Gujarat students who want to pursue a career in marine engineering or in merchant navy.

Nirma had announced to set up such an institute during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit-2003. But after slackening of its initial enthusiasm, the state government has decided not to pursue the FMCG major to set up the institute and has started exploring other possibilities.

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) was to co-ordinate with Nirma for this project. Talking to Business Standard, SC Mathur, chief nautical officer of GMB, said, "Nirma had announced the institute during the 2003 Vibrant Gujarat summit.

It had even commissioned a feasibility study through a Mumbai-based institute. However, after that there was no movement from their side. We had a long correspondence with the institute management. However, it seemed that the Nirma management was reluctant to set up the institute on its existing premises located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar as was decided earlier. Instead, it wanted separate land."

"With no response from Nirma since then, the government has decided to look elsewhere. We already have one proposal from a Vadodara-based Late Ramsingh Chhajjumal Memorial Educational Trust to set up the academy in Vadodara. The trust is ready to invest Rs 10 crore in the project. The discussions are on and they are proceeding in a very positive manner," he said refusing to reveal anymore details.

However, sources in the department are positive an MoU may be signed during the forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat summit next year.

When asked about the feasibility of having the institute in Vadodara, he said that a major portion of syllabus for maritime courses is theory-based and can be taught anywhere. Whenever field studies are required, students can always be taken to Bhavnagar.

It is noteworthy that during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2003, Adani Group had also proposed a Rs 20-crore 'port management institute', but that project also got nowhere.