I n November 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the Ministry of Shipping: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This new focus can be traced back to the fact that around 70 percent of India's total trading volume is covered by maritime transport. The government is supporting the developmental works of the Ports, and it has undertaken several measures to improve operational efficiency through mechanization, deepening the draft and speedy evacuations. If we probe the recent development, India has plans to invest $82 billion in port projects by 2035.

During the second edition of the Maritime India Summit last year, PM Modi announced a list of 400 investable projects to address the challenges as well as the growth trajectory of the segment. These projects have an investment potential of $31 billion dollars or Rs. 2.25 lakh crore. This will further strengthen the commitment to the overall development of the country's maritime sector. The Maritime India Vision 2030 outlines the priorities of the government. The Sagar-Manthan: Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Centre was also launched on the same day. It is an information system for enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue capabilities, security and marine environment protection.

The government announced the Sagarmala project for promoting port-led development aimed at implementing more than 574 projects at the cost of $82 billion (six lakh crore) by 2035. The main aim of the Sagarmala Program is to reduce logistics costs and time for the movement of EXIM and domestic cargo and the development of port-proximate industrial capacities near the coast in the near future. In this regard, the concepts of Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs), Coastal Economic Units (CEUs), Port-Linked Industrial & Maritime Clusters and Smart Industrial Port Cities have been introduced.

Last week the PM visited the Port City Mangalore to lay the foundation stone for the eight new Projects.

PMs Two Days Visit to Port City
The PM started his South Indian visit by flagging off the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikranth, in Kochi and dedicated it to the nation. He subsequently inaugurated a project worth over Rs. 280 crore for the mechanization of berth number 14 for handling containers and other cargo undertaken by the NMPA. He laid the foundation stone of five projects worth around Rs. 1,000 crore undertaken by the port. PM also inaugurated two projects undertaken by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) BS VI Upgradation Project and Sea Water Desalination Plant worth Rs. 1,830 crore and Rs.680crore.

PM reminisced that the government had been strengthening port-related infrastructure in a big way. The government has identified nearly 150 new projects for port connectivity across the country, and several among them are already commissioned. Thanks to this, Indian ports' capacity has almost doubled in the last eight

years, equal to the total capacity we created since Independence till 2014. The Indian government is also organizing green development programs, and it is keen on green growth and job creation, adding that the utilization of natural gas imported through ports would help in green development.

Double Engine Program
Through the double engine program, development works have been carried out. The highway projects worth over one lakh crore were in the pipeline in the state. In the last eight years, projects worth Rs. 70,000 crore were completed. Railway electrification is being implemented swiftly as well. The Indian railways have grown fourfold during the period. The main aim was to exploit the potential of the 7,500 km coastline of the country by developing tourism and allied industries. With the economic growth, people in the country, too, could afford cruise tourism. NMPA handled over 25,000 cruise tourists in the last season.

The Government Announced The Sagarmala Project For Promoting Port-Led Development Aimed At Implementing More Than 574 Projects At The Cost Of $82 Billion (Six Lakh Crore) By 2035

Projects for Karnataka under Sagarmala Scheme
Under the Sagarmala scheme, 18 projects were completed, and 12 were sanctioned by the Shipping Ministry for Karnataka. The Centre has modified the Coastal Regulation Zone in Karnataka to facilitate tourism development. It also approved a port at Majali in Uttara Kannada district at the cost of Rs. 350 crore.

In order to develop the fishermen community, the PM has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects. These projects are poised further to strengthen business employment and entrepreneurship in the region. There will be an increase in exports. In the past eight years, the country has given more priority to infrastructure development. Karnataka has benefited immensely from this scheme. It is one of the major beneficiaries of the Sagarmala project.

The government has conceived the development of ports as the important mantra of development, and rightly so. State-of-the-art technology being implemented in the port of Mangalore is a case in point. Due to these efforts, in only eight years, the capacity of Indian ports has doubled. After overtaking the UK to become the world's fifth largest economy, India is on its path to joining the list of developed countries. To achieve that ultimate goal, it is imperative to expand the production sector. It is necessary to put stress on Make in India products.

In June this year, the PM visited Bangalore for two days. In order to boost connectivity and enhance mobility in Bengaluru, Modi laid the foundation stone of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) to connect the capital city with its suburbs and satellite townships. With an estimated cost of Rs. 15,700 crore, the project envisages four corridors with a total route length of over 148 km. The PM also laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Bengaluru Cantt and Yesvantpur Junction railway stations to be developed at the cost of around Rs. 500 crore and Rs. 375 crore, respectively. He also inaugurated India’s first air-conditioned railway station Sir M. Visvesvaraya Railway Station, at Baiyappanahalli.