**Policy Summary: Improvement in Port Infrastructure**
On July 25, 2025, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 965 regarding improvements in port infrastructure. The response, delivered by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, outlined several measures implemented to reduce average turnaround time and enhance operational efficiency at major ports in India.
Key initiatives include:
* Construction of new berths, terminals, and parking plazas.
* Mechanization and modernization of existing port infrastructure.
* Process reengineering.
* Digitalization of port processes.
* Enhancement of hinterland connectivity through improved rail and road networks.
Specific projects focused on modernization and capacity expansion, such as Vadhvan Port and the Tuna Tekra Cargo Terminal, have been operationalized. The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, has granted greater autonomy to port authorities and introduced market-driven tariff mechanisms for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) operators to boost private investment and efficiency.
Stakeholder engagement is considered crucial, with feedback incorporated during policy formulation and project restructuring. Major ports maintain regular interactions with stakeholders to identify bottlenecks and streamline operations.
Progress in reducing turnaround times and improving overall port performance is monitored through the Sagarmanthan Dashboard, which tracks and assesses key indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The Indian government ministry responsible for ports, shipping, and waterways.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL: The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Major Port Authorities Act, 2021: An act providing greater autonomy to port authorities and a market-driven tariff mechanism for PPP operators.
Vadhvan Port: A port development project focused on modernization and capacity expansion.
Tuna Tekra Cargo Terminal: A cargo terminal project aimed at modernization and capacity expansion.
Sagarmanthan Dashboard: A dashboard developed to monitor overall port performance, including turnaround time.
SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding improvement in port infrastructure.
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: Member of Parliament who raised a question regarding improvement in port infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK S ABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 965
ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
IMPROVEMENT IN PORT INFRASTRUCTURE
965. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:
SHRI RAJESH VERMA:
SMT. SHAMBHAVI:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the measures implemented by the Government to reduce the average
turnaround time of major ports in the country;
(b) the manner in which the Government plans to enhance operational efficiency at
ports to facilitate quicker loading and unloading processes;
(c) the details of any specific initiatives or investments aimed at improving port
infrastructure and technology;
(d) the role played by stakeholder engagement in identifying bottlenecks and
streamlining operations at major ports; and
(e) the manner in which the Government intends to monitor progress in reducing
turnaround times and improving overall port performance?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) and (b) The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has undertaken several
initiatives to reduce the average turnaround time and enhance operational efficiency at
major ports in the country. These include the construction of new berths, terminals and
parking plazas, mechanization and modernization of existing port infrastructure,
process re-engineering, digitalization of port processes, and enhancement of
hinterland connectivity through improved rail and road networks.
(c) To improve port infrastructure and technology, various projects have been
operationalised, focusing on modernization and capacity expansion of berths and
terminals such as Vadhvan Port, Tuna Tekra Cargo Terminal etc. Moreover, the Major
Port Authorities Act, 2021 has provided greater autonomy to port authorities, market
driven tariff mechanism for PPP operators to boost private investment and efficiency.
(d) Stakeholders play a pivotal role in identifying bottlenecks and streamlining
operations by providing feedback and comments during policy formulation, projectrestructuring etc. Moreover, major ports engage in regular interactions with
stakeholders.
(e) To monitor the overall port performance including turnaround time, the
Sagarmanthan Dashboard has been developed wherein these indicators are regularly
tracked and assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented measures.
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