DPIIT undertakes comprehensive reviews of port connectivities
A total of 144 projects – 42 Rail and 102 Road – are under planning as part of the Sagarmala programme for better port connectivity, efficient cargo movement between ports and their respective hinterland to minimize overall logistics cost, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said in an update on the largest maritime sector development across the country.
Updating Lok Sabha through a written reply on 24 July, he pointed out that 294 rail and road connectivity projects were identified under Sagarmala – 84 of which (63 Rail and 21 Road) have been completed and 66 projects (27 Rail and 39 Road) are under implementation.
MoPSW, in consultation with Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways, are undertaking these projects. The connectivity projects within the port limits are taken up by the Port Authorities and beyond the port limits are taken up by Ministries like MoR, MoRTH or State Governments.
Sonowal underlined that Sagarmala programme has a dedicated pillar of port connectivity which focuses on the last mile and immediate hinterland connectivity of the ports via road, rail and inland waterways.
Further, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of port connectivity and prepared a Comprehensive Port Connectivity Plan (CPCP) in 2022 by reviewing connectivity of the operational ports and identified the ports which needed improvement of road and/ or rail connectivity with nearby economic hubs, he said.
Sagarmala scheme is a central sector scheme of MoPSW with the target to promote port-led development in the country. Under this scheme, MoPSW provides financial assistance for the projects under 5 pillars namely, port modernization, port connectivity, port-led industrialization, coastal community development, and coastal shipping & inland water transport. The pillar wise progress of the projects funded under Sagarmala scheme is available at Annexure-I.
He underlined several measures being undertaken to enhance port capacity, improve operational efficiency, and reduce vessel turnaround time at major ports.
Infrastructure development and capacity augmentation is a continuous process and includes construction of new berths and terminals, mechanization, modernization and optimization of existing berths and terminals, capital dredging to deepen drafts for accommodating larger vessels, development of road and rail connectivity, and creation of supporting infrastructure such as parking plazas.
Further, port processes have been streamlined with the implementation of One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) to improve operational efficiency and reduce vessel turnaround time. As a result of these initiatives, the cargo handling capacity of the Major and Other than Major Ports (OTMP) has increased to 2,818 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) as on March 2026 from ~1,400 MTPA in 2013-14. Fiinews.com
