MoPSW hosts State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) Meeting

Current Context: On July 16, 2024, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, convened the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) meeting via video conferencing.

Chaired by Shri TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW, the meeting brought together senior officials from approximately 30 States and Union Territories to ensure comprehensive development of maritime and waterways transport across India.
The meeting focused on several key areas:

State-Specific Master Plans: Detailed discussions centered around developing customized master plans for each state to address unique challenges and opportunities in the maritime and waterways transport sector.
Maritime Sector Policies: Formulation and implementation of comprehensive policies to promote growth and sustainability in the maritime sector.
Green Initiatives: Exploring opportunities to boost tourism and enhance urban water transport systems.
Lighthouses Development: Plans to develop lighthouses as tourist attractions and improve their navigational efficiency.
Kochi Water Metro Model: The successful Kochi Water Metro model was discussed as a potential blueprint for adoption in other states like Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Goa.

Question:

1 Who chaired the State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committee (SMWTC) meeting convened by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) on July 16, 2024?