Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas has urged the Goa government to immediately introduce and pass the Goa Maritime Board Bill, arguing that further delays are hampering reforms needed to modernise the state’s maritime sector.
Handing over a copy of the proposed Bill to Ports Minister Digambar Kamat on Monday, Viegas said the legislation would create a dedicated Maritime Board capable of streamlining port administration, promoting shipping activities and driving long-term development of Goa’s coastal economy.
The MLA maintained that the Bill had already been vetted by legal experts and was introduced during the previous Assembly session but could not be taken up for discussion after the enforcement of the election code of conduct.
Viegas said the recent postponement of the inauguration of the Captain of Ports terminal has once again highlighted the urgency of establishing the Goa Maritime Board. He claimed that the passage of the legislation is a necessary step towards reforming the state’s maritime administration.
Seeking accountability, the AAP legislator also demanded an inquiry into the role of certain officials in the Department of Ports, alleging that bureaucratic hurdles were delaying the introduction and passage of the Bill. He claimed some officers may have vested interests in continuing the existing Captain of Ports system instead of transitioning to a Maritime Board.
According to Viegas, the proposed Board would bring greater efficiency in managing ports and waterways, strengthen shipping operations along the west coast, and create better opportunities for seafarers and the maritime industry.
Meanwhile, Ports Minister Digambar Kamat said the Department of Ports has already initiated the process of framing rules under the India Ports Act, which came into effect in August 2025, indicating that work on strengthening the sector’s regulatory framework is underway.
