Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the National Perspective Plan for Port Development at the Maritime India Summit in Mumbai today. Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Mumbai that the plan will provide investment opportunities worth 12 lakh crore rupees and will create employment for one crore people. <br/><br/>Stating that for the first time the Maritime Sector has been focusing to provide impetus to the potential growth sector, the Minister said India will consider taking up projects in collaboration with other countries. He said, several policy initiatives have been taken up and reforms in Maritime Laws are also underway to facilitate investments.<br/><br/>Emphasising on having own shipyards, Mr Gadkari said efforts are underway to take up Cochin Shipyard soon. He said, 8 more major ports are being taken up in the country out of which one each in Maharastra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have been referred for Cabinet approval while five more projects are under consideration. He said 80 port transport projects also have been finalised.<br/><br/>Coinciding with Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar's 125th Birth Anniversary today, the Transport Minister announced 35 kilo meter State Highway from Mangao touching Dr. Ambedkar native village Ambadve as National Highway and earmarked 500 crore rupees for development of the highway with concrete top. About 3000 delegates from 41 countries including about 40 CEOs of maritime industries are taking part in the Maritime Summit. About 80 MoUs will be signed during the three day summit involving over 70 thousand crore rupees.