Ports & Shipping

India is strategically located on the world’s shipping routes with a coastline of approximately 7,517 km. Maritime transport handles around 70% of India’s trading in value terms. To promote India's shipping and port industry, the government has also introduced various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for enterprises that develop, maintain and operate ports, inland waterways and shipbuilding in India.

The India Maritime Vision 2030 has identified over 150 initiatives to boost the Indian maritime sector.

The Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in March 2021. It is drafted after significant consultation with over 350 public and private stakeholders comprising of ports, shipyards, inland waterways, trade bodies and associations, and legal experts. The vision serves as a blueprint to achieve an accelerated and coordinated development of India’s diverse maritime sector, comprehensively identifying over 150 initiatives covering all facets of the country’s maritime sector.

The facts include developing best-in-class port infrastructure, enhancing logistics efficiency through technology and innovation, increasing cargo and passenger movement through inland waterways, and leading the world in a safe, sustainable & green maritime sector.

Both Sagarmala and Maritime India Vision focus on unlocking additional potential such as annual revenue of INR 20,000 Cr. (US$2.7 Bn) from extant assets and generating employment, targeting 2 million direct and indirect jobs by 2030

The Government launched the ambitious Sagarmala Programme in March 2017, with the vision of port-led development and growth of logistics-intensive industries. Under Sagarmala Programme, $123 bn would be invested across 415 projects across the following identified components:

•  Port Modernization and New Port Development
•  Port Connectivity Enhancement
•  Port-Linked Industrialization
•  Coastal Community Development

The projects identified under Sagarmala Programme are expected to have the following impact:

• Mobilization of over $58 bn of infrastructure investment
• Double the share of inland and coastal waterways in the modal mix from 6%
• Reduce time for export by 5 days
• Boost merchandise exports by $110 bn
• Create 4 mn new direct jobs and 6 mn indirect jobs

As on January 2021, a total of 161 projects at a cost of $12 bn have been completed and 178 projects at a cost of INR 1,96,578 Crores are under implementation. Government aims to become #1 in global ranking for ship recycling by 2030

The cargo handling capacity during 2020-21 at Major Ports was 1560.61 MTPA and for Non-Major Ports, it was 1002.24 MTPA.

India has become the fourth country in the world to have its independent Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS). IRNSS will facilitate at least 2500 merchant vessels, including small fishing vessels in Indian waters, to use the system within an area of nearly 1500 km from the Indian boundary.

100% FDI allowed under both government and automatic route.

For further details, please refer FDI Policy