The Indian maritime sector has seen accelerated progress in the past year. This has been driven by robust expansions in port capacity, supportive government measures, digital modernisation and strategic connectivity efforts.
Indian Infrastructure takes a look at the key developments in the ports and shipping sector over the past year…
Public financing and regulatory norms
- Under Union Budget 2025-26, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) received an allocation of Rs 34.71 billion (budget estimate). The allocation is 46.02 per cent higher than the budget estimate of Rs 23.77 billion and 21.41 per cent higher than the revised estimate of Rs 28.59 billion for 2024-25. A Maritime Development Fund, with a corpus of Rs 250 billion, has also been proposed to be set up for long-term financing, with up to 49 per cent contribution by the government.
- In the past year, Parliament passed various bills aimed at modernising maritime law and governance across ports. These include the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, and the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025.
- In June 2025, Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, India’s first maritime-focused non-banking financial company, was established. It also supports strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, renewable energy, cruise tourism and maritime education, further reinforcing India’s vision of emerging as a global maritime leader.
- During the same month, the Odisha government signed a concession agreement with Gopalpur Ports Limited (Adani Ports) for the expansion and development of Gopalpur Port at an investment of Rs 165.54 billion; and with JSW Utkal Steel Limited to build a captive jetty at the mouth of the Jatadhari river in Ersama tehasil, Jagatsinghpur district, with an initial investment of Rs 21 billion.
- In April 2025, the Maharashtra government approved the Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy, 2025.
Capacity development initiatives
- Under the Sagarmala Programme, 280 projects worth Rs 1.42 trillion have been completed and 209 projects worth Rs 1.62 trillion are under implementation. Additionally, 350 projects worth Rs 2.75 trillion are at various stages of development.
- Several new projects were inaugurated in the past one year. Notable projects include Phase I of the Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal Project, North Cargo Berth-III at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, and oil jetty No. 8 at the Deendayal Port. In addition, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal was inaugurated after a construction period of nearly eight years.
- Foundation stones were laid for the extension of the railway line from Berth No. 13 to Berth No. 16 as well as for a 10 MW green hydrogen production facility at Deendayal Port, and passenger jetty and terminal facilities at Radio Club near the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
- The MoPSW has announced projects worth Rs 570 billion at Deendayal Port, including a mega shipbuilding project and the development of a cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek. In addition, development works worth Rs 2.76 billion have been unveiled at Visakhapatnam Port. Of this, foundation stones have been laid for six projects worth over Rs 1.16 billion, while various projects with a total outlay of Rs 1.6 billion have been inaugurated.
Technology impetus
- Various digital initiatives have been introduced to boost efficiency and productivity, including the Sagar Setu platform and DRISHTI (Data-driven decision support Review Institutional Information System for Hastening and Tracking Implementation), a comprehensive monitoring framework to accelerate the implementation of the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- The Digital Container Shipping Association has released the final versions of its Booking 2.0 and Bill of Lading 3.0 standards to streamline data exchange, enhance security and improve regulatory compliance in container shipping.
Scaling up the inland waterways system
- The National Waterways Regulations, 2025, formulated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), have been put in place to govern the construction of jetties and terminals by various entities, including private, public and joint ventures, on national waterways across the country. In addition, the IWAI has launched a digital portal to attract private investment.
- In December 2024, the Jalvahak scheme was launched to incentivise the movement of long-haul cargo via inland waterways. It reimburses up to 35 per cent of the total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via waterways on National Waterways 1, 2 and 16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, over distances exceeding 300 km.
- In February 2025, the inland waterways terminal at Jogighopa, Assam, was inaugurated. Strategically located 91 km from Gelephu, Bhutan, and 108 km from the Bangladesh border, the terminal is poised to enhance trilateral trade among India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
