On September 18-19, 2025, India witnessed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony in Bhavnagar under the banner “Samudra Se Samriddhi – Transforming India’s Maritime Sector,” with 27 agreements signed involving public and private stakeholders. The deals, valued over Rs 660 billion, aim to revolutionise ports, shipbuilding, inland waterways, and associated infrastructure across the country.
Key initiatives include:
- Bahuda Port: A Rs 215 billion project in Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh targeting 150 million tonnes per annum capacity, expected to generate around 25,000 jobs and drive industrialisation in the region.
- Patna water metro: A partnership between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the government of Bihar to deploy electric ferries and develop modernised terminals at ten nodes across four routes.
- Shipbuilding clusters: New greenfield shipyards and clusters in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu backed by state centre cooperation, land incentives, and research and development hubs.
- International partnerships: Cochin Shipyard’s tie-up with HD Korea to build large vessels domestically, and MoUs leveraging steel through the shipyard–steel industry link, among others.
- Financing and heritage: The Sagarmala Finance Corporation signed pacts with global and domestic funds for green maritime investment, while a Rs 2.66 billion lighthouse museum at Lothal is part of heritage‑tourism integration.