14 CEZs proposed to be developed under Sagarmala programme

Fourteen Coastal Economic Zones have been identified along the coastline of the country under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) of the Sagarmala Programme, informed Minister of State for Shipping and Finance Pon Radhakrishnan in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Further, these are now proposed to be developed as Coastal Employment Zones (CEZs). Out of 14 CEZs, one prototype CEZ is planned to be developed at the first phase for validation of the CEZ concept, which will be expanded further to encompass the total 14 CEZs. The finalisation of institutional framework, road map and budgetary outlay of the protoype project has been taken up. The Minister also informed that central line ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), NITI Aayog, etc, and concerned state government are involved in the development of the CEZs.