THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28, 2026

Emphasising that India's maritime sector is undergoing a transformational shift, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Vijay Kumar on Tuesday called for deeper collaboration between the Centre and coastal states to unlock the full potential of the country's blue economy and realise the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Addressing the National Consultative Workshop with Coastal States and Union Territories in New Delhi, Vijay Kumar said India has made remarkable strides in recent years, with significant improvements in port efficiency, enhanced global rankings, and stronger integration with international trade networks. He noted that a combination of policy reforms, robust infrastructure development, and rising private sector participation is steadily positioning India as a formidable maritime power.

The high-level workshop brought together representatives from coastal states, Union Territories, and key maritime stakeholders to align national priorities with state-level initiatives. Deliberations centred on accelerating port-led development, boosting logistics efficiency, and promoting digital and sustainable maritime practices to enhance India's global competitiveness.

Anchored in the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the government's long-term roadmap envisages substantial investments across ports, coastal shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding, and green shipping. Vijay Kumar highlighted that India's port capacity and operational capabilities are poised for substantial expansion over the coming decades, driven by mechanisation, infrastructure modernisation, and port-led industrialisation. He also underscored shipbuilding as a strategic priority for strengthening India's position in the global maritime value chain.

A major focus of the workshop was the critical role of non-major ports, which currently handle nearly 46 per cent of India's cargo. The Ministry stressed the need to better integrate these ports with national frameworks through standardised processes, digital adoption, and operational efficiency improvements.

The discussions were organised around three key pillars—sectoral growth, regulatory and digital reforms, and state-led capacity expansion initiatives. Participants reviewed progress in infrastructure creation, public-private partnership models, and ease-of-doing-business measures, while identifying fresh opportunities for growth.

Technology and regulatory modernisation featured prominently, with detailed discussions on the implementation of the One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) and the Maritime Single Window, Sagar Setu. These initiatives are expected to streamline operations and enable seamless end-to-end digital transactions across India's maritime ecosystem. The Indian Ports Act, 2025, was also highlighted as a landmark reform that will strengthen Centre-State coordination and create a transparent, future-ready regulatory environment.

Coastal states and Union Territories showcased their initiatives spanning port infrastructure expansion, green port development, digital transformation, and the establishment of shipbuilding and maritime industrial clusters. Their presentations reflected strong alignment with the Centre's strategic vision and a shared commitment to building a resilient, efficient, and sustainable maritime ecosystem.

The workshop saw participation from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.

Concluding the deliberations, Joint Secretary (Ports, IT & e-Governance), MoPSW, Venkatesapathy S., said initiatives such as ONOP, Maritime Single Window (Sagar Setu), and the Indian Ports Act, 2025, will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency, transparency, and seamless integration across the maritime sector.

The Ministry described the workshop as a significant milestone in strengthening cooperative federalism in the maritime domain, reaffirming India's commitment to becoming a leading global maritime nation by 2047.