<span style="color: #222222;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat will improve 'Ease of Living' and boost economic prosperity in the region.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister was speaking after virtually inaugurating the Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagging off Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat today.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It marks a big step towards the Prime Minister's vision of harnessing waterways and integrating them with the economic development of the country.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said, the Ro-Pax ferry service will work as a Gateway to South Gujarat and Saurashtra region.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, the facility will boost business and connectivity will become faster.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister termed this service as the 'next generation' transport and infrastructure for the people of Gujarat.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, with the introduction of the Ro-Pax service between Ghogha and Hazira today, dreams of people of Saurashtra and South Gujarat have been fulfilled and their long wait has ended.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister thanked people associated with it including the engineers and workers with whose efforts the facility has been developed.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also interacted with the people who will be benefited by this service.  <br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister lauded the way Gujarat realized its maritime potential in the last two decades and gave priority to port led development.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Modi said, the coastal belt of Gujarat is becoming the gateway to prosperity.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, today, maritime business-related infrastructure and capacity building in Gujarat is going on in full swing.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said efforts are on to strengthen the blue economy of the country.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister said, Government is making efforts to restart the ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej soon.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister also announced the renaming of the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.<br />'' <br />'' Mr.Modi said, in order to reduce the expenditure on logistics, India is developing multimodal connectivity.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said that government is trying to interconnect the infrastructure related to road, rail, air and shipping and removing the silos in the process.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, India is still spending more money on transportation in comparison to the other nations and the cost of logistics can be reduced through water transport.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandavia also participated in the event.</span><br />''