Port

India has set sail on a bold and visionary path with the unveiling of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, a transformative roadmap launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Global Maritime India Summit in October 2023. Rooted in the larger national aspiration of Amrit Kaal, this forward-looking maritime vision lays out a comprehensive strategy to elevate India into a global maritime powerhouse over the next 25 years. With an estimated investment outlays of Rs 75-80 lakh Cr, the vision focuses on strengthening port infrastructure, enhancing shipbuilding capabilities, promoting sustainable and green practices, revitalizing inland and coastal waterways and reinforcing maritime security all while fostering international partnership and positioning India as a leader in the global maritime arena. Port Modernisation & Capacity Expansion At the heart of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 lies a strong emphasis on port-led development, a critical pillar of India’s maritime resurgence. Blessed with a vast coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres, India currently manages 12 major ports and around 187 non-major ports, forming the backbone of the country’s maritime logistics and trade. In just the past decade, there has been a remarkable upswing in port performance. Cargo traffic at major ports has more than doubled, rising from 745 million tonnes in 2013 to over 1,600 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2023. Operational efficiency has also improved significantly, with the average turnaround time for ships at major ports coming down sharply from 127 hours to nearly 53 hours, showcasing the strides made in digitalisation, mechanisation, and procedural reforms. Looking ahead to 2047, the Vision sets an ambitious target to ramp up India’s port handling capacity to 10,000 MTPA. To realise this, several mega port development projects are being undertaken. Among the flagship initiatives is the Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra a deep-draft, all-weather greenfield port being jointly developed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, with a planned investment of ₹76,220 crore. Once operational, it is expected to handle over 23 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) annually by 2040, making it one of the top container ports globally. Another strategically important project is at Galathea Bay in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, envisaged to serve as a transshipment hub and bolster India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific maritime space. Besides these, major capacity augmentation efforts are underway at key ports including Deendayal (Kandla), Paradip, Tuticorin (VOC Port), Chennai, and Visakhapatnam, all aimed at transforming India into a global maritime and logistics hub by 2047.