Srinagar, April 05 (Scoop News)-The Institution of Engineers India, Jammu Kashmir State Centre (IEI-JKSC), on Sunday organised a webinar to mark National Maritime Day, focusing on the theme “Maritime India – Empowering Progress.”Kashmir politics coverage
Experts and engineers participate in IEI-JKSC’s National Maritime Day webinar on “Maritime India – Empowering Progress,” deliberating on maritime growth and inland waterway potential in Jammu Kashmir
The event brought together engineers, policymakers, administrators, students, and domain experts to deliberate on the growing importance of maritime development in driving national growth.
Er Irfan Ahmad Reshi, Honorary Secretary of IEI-JKSC, in his opening remarks highlighted India’s vast maritime potential, noting that the country has a coastline of over 7,500 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone of around 2.4 million square kilometres. He stated that nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume is transported through maritime routes, underlining the sector’s strategic and economic significance.
Chairman IEI-JKSC, Er Ferdous Ahad Bhat, in his welcome address stressed the need for collaboration among engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to strengthen the maritime ecosystem. He emphasized the importance of sustainable and technology-driven solutions and pointed out that despite being landlocked, Jammu and Kashmir holds potential for inland water transport through resources like Dal Lake and the River Jhelum, which can support tourism and connectivity.Kashmir politics coverage
The keynote address was delivered by Capt. Dr Bhaskar Bhandarkar, Chairman, Marine Division Board, IEI, who elaborated on ongoing efforts to modernize ports, improve shipping efficiency, and promote coastal development. He also highlighted emerging trends such as digitalisation in shipping and called for greater participation of engineers and youth in innovation and capacity building within the maritime sector.
Other prominent speakers, including Er VB Singh, Immediate Past President of IEI, Er Manoj Kumar, and Er BL Rawal, shared insights on strengthening maritime infrastructure, policy frameworks, and the adoption of advanced technologies for sustainable sectoral growth.
The speakers appreciated the initiative by IEI-JKSC in creating a platform for dialogue on critical national issues. The webinar concluded with an interactive session, where participants engaged with experts, reflecting the relevance of maritime development in India’s economic trajectory.
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