India’s maritime sector has received a significant technological and sustainability boost with the launch of the SAGAR SETU platform, the formation of a Digital Centre of Excellence in partnership with C‑DAC, and the rollout of the DRISHTI monitoring framework—marking a decisive shift towards efficiency, transparency, and green infrastructure.
The SAGAR SETU platform, now live, offers a unified digital interface for process digitisation across over 80 major ports and 40 key stakeholders. It is poised to slash vessel and cargo documentation time while reducing paper usage, aligning with the PM’s Gati Shakti plan for streamlined logistics. This digital single-window initiative extends earlier maritime modules like MSW and MMD embraced in 2023 and 2024. Alongside, the newly established Digital Centre of Excellence under a MoU with C‑DAC will harness AI, IoT, blockchain and cybersecurity expertise to design smart port operations–in line with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. This marks maritime India’s embrace of high-performance computing and software-driven logistics solutions.
To ensure accountability, the DRISHTI framework provides real-time KPI tracking across institutional and departmental levels—an operational dashboard for maritime goals. It embodies the Reform, Perform, Transform, Inform ethos promised by policymakers. Efficiency extends to commercial policy with a standardised Scale of Rates (SOR) template for major ports. This initiative builds upon extensive stakeholder negotiation and integrates with digital platforms for easy comparison, fair tariffs, and market clarity. Beyond governance, the administration released the “Gateway to Green” report—co-created with the Indian Ports Association. It maps a green hydrogen strategy for Indian ports including Cochin, Mumbai, Paradip, and V. O. Chidambaranar, to tap into export-led clean-energy opportunities aligned with global sustainability goals.
Critics, however, note that adoption hurdles remain. The platform claims 21,000 users, yet Play Store downloads fall around 500—raising questions around end-user engagement. Resolving this gap will be essential to achieve the platform’s full digital and environmental potential. These initiatives are part of a broader digital freight and blue economy narrative. They track India’s shift from reactive, manual port processes to predictive, connected systems—mirroring global green corridor calls like India‑Singapore shipping collaborations.
Future challenges include expanding IoT coverage in non-major ports, integrating inland waterways into National Logistic Portal frameworks, and scaling cybersecurity safeguards to safeguard intricate supply chains. In essence, India’s maritime stakeholders are laying the foundations of a digitally mature, equitable, and eco-conscious seafaring economy. This juxtaposition of technology, tariff transparency, and climate readiness signals a forward-leaning effort to position India as a global maritime power. The success of these measures, however, will ultimately hinge on consistent engagement, measurable outcomes in port turnaround, carbon reduction, and adoption by small stakeholders across the logistics chain.
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