Prime Minister inaugurates,lays foundation stone of key maritime sector development projects

In a major boost to the maritime sector, the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development works worth over Rs 34,200 crore at the ‘Samudra se Samriddhi’ event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat on Saturday. 

Projects span the country He inaugurated the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock; laid the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; new container berth, cargo handling facilities and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi.

In line with his commitment to holistic and sustainable development, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects of the central and state government, worth over Rs 26,354 crore, catering to various sectors in Gujarat. He inaugurated HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, complete solarisation of Dhordo village among others. He laid the foundation stone of LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects, including expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways.

‘Chips or ships, they must be made in India’

 “If India is to become a developed nation by 2047, it must become self-reliant; there is no alternative to self-reliance and all 140 crore citizens must commit to the same resolve—whether it is chips or ships, they must be made in India”, emphasised the Prime Minister, remarking that with this vision, India’s maritime sector is now moving towards next-generation reforms. He announced that from today, all Major Ports in the country will be freed from multiple documents and fragmented processes. The implementation of ‘One Nation, One Document’ and ‘One Nation, One Port’ Process will simplify trade and commerce. He highlighted that during the recent Monsoon Session, several outdated laws from the colonial era were amended. He informed that a series of reforms have been initiated in the maritime sector, and five maritime laws have been introduced in a new form. These laws will bring major changes in shipping and port governance.

Shipbuilding focus

Underlining that India has been an expert in building large ships for centuries, the PM remarked that next-generation reforms will help revive this forgotten legacy. He emphasised that India possesses the capability and lacks no skill, and assured the nation that the political will required to build large ships is firmly in place.

He announced a major policy reform under which large ships have now been accorded infrastructure status. He remarked that when a sector receives infrastructure recognition, it gains significant advantages. The PM highlighted that shipbuilding companies will now find it easier to secure loans from banks and will benefit from reduced interest rates. All benefits associated with infrastructure financing will now be extended to shipbuilding enterprises. He emphasised that this decision will reduce the financial burden on Indian shipping companies and help them compete more effectively in the global market.

He pointed out that to make India a leading maritime power, the government is working on three major schemes, initiatives that will ease financial support for the shipbuilding sector, help shipyards adopt modern technology, and improve design and quality standards. He informed that over Rs 70,000 crore will be invested in these schemes in the coming years.

Port development

Mr Modi highlighted that the objectives set eleven years ago for port-led development are now being met with remarkable success. He informed that large ports are being developed across the country to accommodate large vessels, and connectivity is being enhanced through initiatives like Sagarmala.

Noting that in the past eleven years, India has doubled its port capacity, he pointed out that prior to 2014, the average ship turnaround time in India was two days, whereas today it has been reduced to less than one day. He informed that new and large ports are being constructed across the country. He remarked that recently, India’s first deep-water container transhipment port commenced operations in Kerala. Additionally, the PM announced that Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra is being developed at a cost exceeding Rs 75,000 crore, and will rank among the top ten ports in the world.

Mentioning that India currently accounts for 10% of global maritime trade, Mr Modi emphasised the need to increase this share and declared that by 2047, India aims to triple its participation in global sea trade—and will achieve it. 

He expressed happiness that Gujarat’s coastline is once again proving to be a boon for the region. He remarked that this entire area is now setting a new benchmark for port-led development in the country, and highlighted that 40% of the cargo arriving via sea routes in India is handled by Gujarat’s ports. These will soon benefit from the Dedicated Freight Corridor, which will enable faster movement of goods to other parts of the country and further enhance port efficiency.

He added that a robust ship-breaking ecosystem is emerging in the region, with the Alang Ship Breaking Yard serving as a prime example, as per an official release.

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