Patna to Get Ship Repair Center, Land Finalized; Boost for Waterways & Jobs

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of ship repair centers in Patna and Varanasi in the general budget, emphasizing waterways development.
• Currently, ships from Patna go to Kolkata for repairs, incurring high logistics costs and time; the new center will reduce these issues.
• The project, with its foundation stone laid by PM Modi last September, has secured five acres of land near Kurji, Patna, with fencing completed.
• The Bihar Industries Association (BIA) President, Ramlal Khetan, highlighted that the center will strengthen waterways transportation, benefiting trade and industry by reducing freight costs.
• Ship engineer Vikas Gupta noted the center will create local employment, curb migration, and make spare parts and comprehensive repair services available in Patna, eliminating the need to travel to Kolkata.

Why It Matters: Patna's new ship repair center will cut costs, boost trade, and create local jobs, accelerating waterways development.