Country's steel industry is facing a major challenge with increased steel import from China and the Centre was working towards a solution, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said here today.
"Domestic steel industry has been facing a crisis, with most of them shutting down, as China is exporting steel to India," he said.
"But we have been looking for ways to tackle this challenge and very soon a solution would be found," the minister added.
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The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the dry port proposed to be constructed at Javas village, around five kms from here.
"The dry port would be a boon to industrialists and farmers as they will be able to export their goods at low cost. It will open a new window of import-export in Marathwada region," he said.
"In the first phase, Rs 350 crore would be spent on the project. The Jawharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), which is setting up this dry port, has already released Rs 93 crore for land acquisition," he added.
According to Gadkari, the dry port would reduce the cost of transportation of goods and lead to news industries in the region, which would provide employment opportunities.
"Cold storage and ware-houses would also be constructed, which would be beneficial for farmers and traders," he said.
The minister also said that the government was planning to purchase old commercial vehicles and offer concession for purchase of new vehicles.
"The old vehicles can be sold to steel industries at cheaper rate," he said.
According to Gadkari, the Centre has decided to produce fertilisers from coal. "Just like in China, where they produce fertilisers from coal, the Centre plans to produce coal. This would make fertilisers available at cheaper rate for farmers," he said.
Gadkari also performed 'bhoomi pujan' of new roads being constructed at an expenditure of Rs 334 crore.
Gadkari asked state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis,
who was also present at the function, to form a joint venture company with JNPT for this.
Gadkari said JNPT will close 2016-17 with a profit of Rs 1,300 crore and made a commitment to invest back all of it for the development of the state.
He said all public sector enterprises, including ports and shipyards under his ministry, will be earning a profit of Rs 7,000 crore this fiscal year, up from Rs 6,000 crore in 2015-16.
His ministry has already awarded projects worth Rs 1 trillion under the Sagarmala project and plans to award Rs 2 trillion more in the next two years, he added.
Rail minister Suresh Prabhu, who was also present, said the Railways has been suffering for the last two years as it is not able to find takers for a large cargo capacity which it has created.
He expressed happiness at more steel plants coming up, saying it presents an opportunity for the Railways.
