Union Minister for Ports, Shipping / and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has unveiled an ambitious plan to quadruple India’s port capacity, setting a target of surpassing 10,000 million ton per annum (mtpa) by 2047.
Currently, the capacity stands at approximately 2,600 mtpa. The country’s total port capacity will increase from around 2,600 mtpa to more than 10,000 mtpa by 2047. This target aligns with the government’s vision of robust growth in the maritime sector, with over INR 10 lakh crore worth of investment opportunities identified.
To realize this vision, the role of private players will be increasingly vital, with a focus on public-private partnerships (PPPs). Currently, PPP terminals handle approximately 50 percent of the cargo at major ports, and efforts are underway to elevate their share to about 85 percent in coming decades.
The government is also intensifying efforts to enhance cargo movement on national waterways, which witnessed 16 percent year-on-year increase in the last fiscal year. Ambitious targets have been set to achieve a substantial cargo quantum of 500 mtpa by 2047.
The government has plans to develop ‘hydrogen hubs’ across ports operated by both the Central and state governments. All ports will explore the possibility of creating hydrogen hubs.
