HT Bureau
NEW DELHI, Sept 25: India’s container handling capacity set for a twofold increase in five years, said Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday.
He said this while addressing media persons after participating in a conference which aimed at showcasing the Ministry’s contributions toward transforming India’s maritime sector and aligning with the vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047.
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During the press conference, Sonowal presented an extensive overview of the significant milestones achieved by the ministry during the first 100 days.
“After 25 years since the establishment of Kamarajar Port, the addition of Vadhvan Port marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime journey, alongside the recent notification of Galathea Bay as a major port. In the next five years, MoPSW projects container handling to reach an impressive 40 million TEUs, creating 2 million job opportunities across the country. JNPA alone will scale up its handling capacity from the current 6.6 million TEUs to 10 million,” an official statement quoted Sonowal as saying.
The minster commenced acknowledged the unwavering guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress’ has become the cornerstone of India’s maritime transformation. He also highlighted that PM Modi’s focus on holistic development and his mantra of ‘Transformation through Transportation’ are leading to a complete overhaul of India’s maritime landscape.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s focus on holistic development and his mantra of ‘Transformation through Transportation’ are creating a paradigm shift in India’s maritime sector. This Government’s commitment to strengthening maritime infrastructure is paving the way for unprecedented economic growth and generating significant employment opportunities across the country. Waterways are becoming the new highways of India,” he said.
He further elaborated on the major initiatives taken by the Ministry under the guidance of PM Modi, highlighting that these are geared toward enhancing port infrastructure, improving ease of doing business, promoting sustainability, and creating employment opportunities.
“Recognising the strategic importance of shipbuilding and ship repair, the Ministry is developing dedicated clusters in Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat. We are also allocating more than 3,900 acres in Kandla and VOC Port for the development of hydrogen manufacturing hubs, positioning India as a leader in clean energy. Additionally, we are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming ‘Sagarmanthan: The Great Ocean Conference,’ which will be held in Mumbai this November, further emphasising focus on ocean sustainability and blue economy growth,” the minister added.
Sonowal also presented the Ministry’s accomplishments, focusing on flagship projects that will enhance India’s maritime capabilities and contribute to overall sector development. He underscored the foundation of Vadhvan Port, India’s first major port project of the 21st century, poised to become one of the largest all-weather deep-water ports with a capacity of 298 MMTPA.
“This mega port is expected to create 1.2 million employment opportunities and place an Indian port among the top 10 container ports globally, significantly improving international shipping connectivity and reducing transit times and costs,” he added.
Besides this, another key project highlighted was the Tuticorin International Container Terminal on the East Coast, which will serve as a major transshipment hub, saving up to USD 200 per container and providing an estimated annual foreign exchange savings of USD 4 million.
“The Ease of Doing Business Initiatives introduced several reforms, including the establishment of the Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) to foster policy and operational synergy, the Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC) to streamline maritime dispute resolutions, and the Sagar Aankalan Guidelines to benchmark port performance, enhancing global competitiveness. Additionally, the commencement of operations at Cochin Shipyard’s International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF), equipped with state-of-the-art ship lifts and workstations, positions India as a global leader in the ship repair market,” the statement said.
In cruise tourism, the International Cruise Terminal at Visakhapatnam was operationalised, boosting both domestic and international maritime tourism prospects.
The secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, T K Ramachandran, provided a comprehensive overview of the Ministry’s strategic initiatives.
He highlighted key reforms aimed at strengthening maritime infrastructure, driving investment, and enhancing ease of doing business.
