SAGARMALA PROGRAMME AND PORT MODERNISATION
Why in News?
On July 24, 2026, the government provided an update showing India’s overall port cargo handling capacity reached 2,818 million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA), doubling from 1,400 MTPA in 2013-14.
Core Information: The Five Strategic Pillars
The flagship programme focuses on port-led development across India’s 7,500 km coastline through five distinct core areas:
- Port Modernisation & New Development: Upgrading existing port infrastructure, introducing deep drafts for larger ships, and building new greenfield ports.
- Port Connectivity Enhancement: Deploying multi-modal transport solutions, including new domestic highways, heavy-haul rail lines, and logistics hubs.
- Port-Led Industrialisation: Establishing coastal economic zones, clusters, and smart industrial cities close to ports to reduce domestic logistics costs.
- Coastal Community Development: Generating sustainable local livelihoods through modernized fishing harbours, skill development programs, and coastal tourism.
- Coastal Shipping & Inland Water Transport: Promoting eco-friendly alternative routes via national rivers and coastal waterways to decongest standard roads and railways.
Key Performance Milestones (Cumulative Progress)
- Project Scale: Out of 845 identified projects valued at ₹6.06 lakh crore, 315 projects worth ₹1.57 lakh crore have been fully completed.
- Efficiency Gains: Average vessel turnaround time dropped drastically from 96 hours in 2014 to under 50 hours.
- Global Standing: Sustained modernization has pushed 9 Indian ports into the global Top 100, with Visakhapatnam breaking into the top 20 container terminals.
- Digital Transformation: Digital frameworks like Sagar Setu and e-Samudra have shifted standard cargo clearance to paperless, real-time tracking.
