India's Maritime Sector Sees Record Growth with Govt. Initiatives

Strategic Insights -

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, recently announced multiple initiatives by the Government to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the region. With an investment of Rs.5,000 crores earmarked, the Union Government has drawn up major initiatives in this regard. Over the past 11 years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector with record growth in cargo handling, capacity, and coastal shipping. Major ports have nearly doubled their capacity, cruise tourism is rising with ambitious new terminals, and 50,000 youth from the Northeast will be trained for maritime jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian Government has earmarked an investment of Rs.5,000 crores to boost the waterways and maritime sector in the region.
  • The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector with record growth in cargo handling, capacity, and coastal shipping over the past 11 years.
  • Major ports have nearly doubled their capacity, with nine of them ranking in the World Bank's top 100, and Visakhapatnam Port reaching the top 20.
  • The government aims to train 50,000 youth from the Northeast in maritime skills over the next decade, offering them assured employment opportunities in the growing sector.
  • The Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati and the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dibrugarh will power this transformation.
  • The Ministry has undertaken projects worth Rs.1,000 crore in the Northeast's inland waterways sector over the past two years, with Rs.300 crore works completed and Rs.700 crore slated for completion by 2025.
  • Initiatives include permanent cargo terminals at Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj, and Badarpur; year-round fairway dredging; and tourist jetties worth Rs.299 crore.
  • The operationalisation of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) offers new trade routes bypassing the Siliguri Corridor, strengthening regional connectivity and aligning with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Statistics:

  • Rs.5,000 crores earmarked for investment in the waterways and maritime sector.
  • 50,000 youth from the Northeast to be trained in maritime skills over the next decade.
  • 9 major ports ranking in the World Bank's top 100, with Visakhapatnam Port reaching the top 20.
  • Rs.1,000 crore spent on projects in the Northeast's inland waterways sector over the past two years.
  • Rs.300 crore works completed, with Rs.700 crore slated for completion by 2025.
  • 10 state-of-the-art dredgers to be deployed to ensure all-weather navigability, backed by an investment of Rs.610 crore.
  • 100 modern barges to be operated by a global logistics major on NW2 & 16 by 2025.
  • 85 community jetties to be developed across the Northeast to improve local connectivity.

Sources:

  • "Government to boost waterways, maritime sector" by India Education Diary, July 7.
  • "Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announces multiple initiatives for the waterways and maritime sector" by HT Digital Content Services.