Sagarmala Programme, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Sagarmala Programme was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2015 to promote port-led development across India.
• It aims to leverage India's 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways to reduce logistics costs for domestic and EXIM cargo.
• The program focuses on enhancing port connectivity infrastructure, with over 7,100 km of such infrastructure identified.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• As of March 2026, 315 projects worth ₹1.57 lakh crore have been completed out of 845 identified projects estimated at ₹6.06 lakh crore.
• The program has contributed to a 118% growth in coastal shipping and a 700% surge in inland waterway cargo movement over the last decade.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Sagarmala Programme seeks to transform India's maritime sector by modernizing ports, promoting port-led industrialization, and improving coastal and hinterland connectivity.
• Its vision is to reduce logistics costs and time for cargo movement with minimal infrastructure investment, thereby improving the competitiveness of Indian exports.
• The program is structured around five pillars: Port Modernization & New Port Development, Port Connectivity Enhancement, Port-led Industrialization, Coastal Community Development, and Coastal Shipping & Inland Water Transport.
• The National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) provides overall policy guidance and reviews implementation progress.
• The Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), now restructured as Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), provides funding support for projects.
• Achievements include a significant reduction in vessel turnaround time from 96 hours in 2014 to 49.5 hours in 2025.
• Nine Indian ports are now ranked among the world's top 100, with Visakhapatnam in the top 20 container ports globally.
• Sagarmala 2.0 is envisioned as the next phase, aligning with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, with a focus on shipbuilding, repair, recycling, and port modernization.
• The program has an estimated potential to create around 1 crore jobs, including 40 lakh direct and 60 lakh indirect employment opportunities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Port-led Development: An economic strategy leveraging port infrastructure and connectivity to drive industrialization, trade, and overall economic growth.
• Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs): Industrial clusters developed near ports to reduce logistics costs and enhance manufacturing and trade activities.
• Multimodal Connectivity: The integration of various transport modes like road, rail, and waterways to ensure efficient and cost-effective movement of cargo to and from ports.