The Indian maritime sector, which handles around 95 per cent of the country’s trade by volume and 70 per cent by value, has been undergoing rapid transformation to improve operational efficiency, cost competitiveness and ease of doing business. Recognising ports and shipping as critical enablers of economic growth, the government and private players are undertaking a series of initiatives to modernise port infrastructure, digitise processes and simplify regulatory frameworks.
Major government initiatives such as the Sagarmala Pariyojana, the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti have focused on enhancing port capacity, strengthening multimodal connectivity and reducing logistics costs, which have traditionally been higher in India compared to global benchmarks. Further, the adoption of digital platforms such as the Port Community System (PCS 1x), maritime single window, e-Port Clearance Portal and SAP-based enterprise business systems (EBS) has significantly reduced paperwork, improved transparency, and shortened cargo and vessel turnaround times. Indian ports are also leveraging automation, smart gate systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) and e-seal technologies, real-time cargo tracking and data analytics to streamline operations and reduce congestion.
Recent initiatives to enhance ease of doing business
As part of digital governance and ease-of-doing-business reforms at Chennai port, a Rs 450 million EBS has been inaugurated recently. This enterprise-wide SAP-based digital platform has been designed to reduce paperwork, cut processing delays and enable real-time reporting, thereby significantly improving vessel turnaround times and transparency.
Further, the e-Port Clearance Portal has been launched under the One Nation, One Port (ONOP) initiative. The platform will allow shipping lines and steamer agents to apply for and download port clearance certificates online, and improve predictability for vessel operations.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has taken a major step towards modernising port operations by implementing a paperless and real-time digital ecosystem. Central to this transformation is the indigenously developed harbour management system (HMS), which enables seamless digital tracking and coordination of marine operations. The integration of intelligent vessel traffic services (iVTS) and the JNPA Pilot Thagaval app has allowed real-time monitoring of vessel movements, pilotage activities and logistics assets. JNPA has also installed a Universal E-Seal Reader at its Centralised Parking Plaza to speed up the processing of self-sealed export containers. Traditionally, self-sealed containers arriving at the port gates required scanning with multiple readers because 12 different vendors supplied tamper-proof e-seals, which slowed truck movement and created congestion. The new Universal E-Seal Reader consolidates this function into one device, allowing a truck to be scanned and cleared in about 10 seconds, compared to roughly five minutes previously.
The Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, has completed the full roll-out of EBS, bringing all modules live and marking a major step in its digital transformation journey. This end-to-end deployment is expected to lower transaction costs, enhance real-time visibility of port operations and logistics chains, and significantly improve the ease of doing business for port users, shipping lines and stakeholders. The integrated system aims to streamline processes, improve data accuracy and support faster decision-making, strengthening the port’s competitiveness and operational efficiency.
Private ports in India have also played a significant and proactive role in advancing ease of doing business by adopting global best practices, technology-led solutions and customer-centric operations. Most private ports have implemented fully paperless systems, including online vessel scheduling, e-invoicing, digital gate passes, e-delivery orders and real-time cargo tracking through PCS 1x integration. Smart gate operations, RFID tagging, optical character recognition-based container recognition and automated weighbridges have significantly reduced truck turnaround time and gate congestion.
Industrial growth in hinterlands
In recent decades, ports have increasingly focused on enhancing ease of doing business by expanding beyond their traditional role as cargo handling facilities and actively promoting industrial development in hinterlands. A key strategy in this transformation has been the development of industrial clusters and special economic or logistics zones in close proximity to ports.
The development of such industrial clusters offers multiple advantages for ports as well as for trade and industry. For ports, these clusters generate a stable and predictable cargo base, ensuring sustained throughput and better utilisation of port assets. For industries, proximity to ports results in faster access to international markets, reduced dwell time and lower logistics costs, thereby improving competitiveness. A notable example is Mundra port, which has emerged as a major gateway for automobile exports from northern India.
The way ahead
To further strengthen the ease of doing business at Indian ports and enhance India’s competitiveness in global trade, the focus must shift to a deep, technology-driven and stakeholder-centric transformation. Integration with multimodal logistics networks and port-led industrial clusters will also help reduce logistics costs and support faster, more reliable trade flows.
