NT Reporter
Panaji
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday welcomed the completion of the new Captain of Ports (COP) Terminal building in Panaji. It said that the terminal was a major upgrade to the state’s maritime
infrastructure.
In a statement, the industry body said the project replaces a heavily dilapidated structure with a modern facility and will benefit the logistics sector, support the Centre’s Sagarmala programme, encourage public-private collaboration and aid the transition towards a Goa
Maritime Board.
According to Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry , the terminal’s integrated navigation and control systems will improve inland water transport management and facilitate oversight of shipping movements, cruise tourism
and commercial passenger vessels.
“It will also accelerate port-led development by improving maritime logistics and generate new trade opportunities for local enterprises,” GCCI stated.
The chamber further stated that facilities such as high-capacity lounges and an advanced amphitheatre combine administrative functions with public utility spaces and could help make the Panaji riverfront a more efficient hub.
GCCI also welcomed the state government’s move to initiate the process of establishing a Goa Maritime Board. According to the chamber, the proposed body would transition Goa’s port administration into a modern legislative framework under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.
“The creation of a state maritime board is a long-awaited milestone for trade bodies. It will grant the state greater operational autonomy, facilitate faster regulatory clearances, optimise maritime asset deployment, and unlock direct central funding under a unified master plan,”
Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.
