Centre has announced the setting up a special shipping cell to address issues impeding the growth potential of the sector. After chairing a high-level meeting in New Delhi yesterday, Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said, special cell will promote coastal shipping in the country and boost trade. He said, government is eyeing annual savings of Rs 25,000 crore on logistics cost by 2025 by promoting coastal shipping under its ambitious Sagarmala Project.<br/><br/>Sagarmala aims at promoting port-led development by harnessing the country's 7,500-km long coastline, 14,500-km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.<br/><br/>Government has identified over 150 projects under Sagarmala. It expects to mobilise more than Rs 4 lakh crore of investment, besides creation of 1 crore new jobs, including 40 lakh direct jobs, in the next 10 years. The Cabinet approved Sagarmala project last year.<br/><br/> The meeting was also attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal.