Panaji, Oct 25 (IANS): A coastal shipping Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament, will see an increase in the demand for manufacturing of inland vessels, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Mansukh Mandaviya said on Sunday.

He also said that his Ministry was geared towards making the shipbuilding sector more competitive in the international market.

"We are bringing a separate Bill in Parliament in the coming days to promote coastal shipping. So that coastal movement and transportation increases," Mandaviya said while speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Konkan Maritime Cluster, first such project in the country for building maritime industry-related infrastructure.

The Union Minister lamented that India was lagging behind in shipbuilding globally.

"Why are we not moving ahead in the shipbuilding sector? First, we are not competitive in the international market; second, there is no domestic demand. How do we increase domestic demand and become more competitive in the international market?" Mandaviya asked, adding that a thrust on coastal shipping will encourage domestic demand.

"This will see an increase in the demand for inland vessels and through increase in coastal movement, demand for coastal shipping will also increase," Mandaviya also said.