Parliament Question: Sagarmala Programme and Port Modernisation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 940 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2026 SAGARMALA PROGRAMME AND PORT MODERNISATION 940. DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: SHRI ALOK SHARMA: SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA: DR. BHOLA SINGH: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI: SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI: SHRI ARUN GOVIL: SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI: DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN: Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:419)न, पोत प(cid:464)रवहन और जलमाग (cid:91) म(cid:287)ं ी (a) the progress made under the Sagarmala Programme in terms of port modernisation, new port development and coastal economic zone projects; (b) the steps taken to enhance port capacity, efficiency, and reduce turnaround time at major and non-major ports; (c) whether the Government has undertaken any initiatives to improve last-mile connectivity through road, rail and inland waterways and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether any projects relating to port-led development, fishing harbours, coastal infrastructure, coastal community development or last-mile connectivity have been sanctioned or implemented under the Sagarmala programme in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated and the present status of implementation, district-wise including Bapatla district? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL) (a) Sagarmala scheme is a central sector scheme of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) with the target to promote port-led development in the country. Under this scheme, MoPSW provides financial assistance for the projects under 5 pillarsnamely, port modernization, port connectivity, port-led industrialization, coastal community development, and coastal shipping & inland water transport. The pillar wise progress of the projects funded under Sagarmala scheme is available at Annexure-I. (b) Government has taken several measures to enhance port capacity, improve operational efficiency, and reduce vessel turnaround time at major ports. Infrastructure development and capacity augmentation is a continuous process and includes construction of new berths and terminals, mechanization, modernization and optimization of existing berths and terminals, capital dredging to deepen drafts for accommodating larger vessels, development of road and rail connectivity, and creation of supporting infrastructure such as parking plazas. Further, port processes have been streamlined with the implementation of One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) to improve operational efficiency and reduce vessel turnaround time. As a result of these initiatives, the cargo handling capacity of the Major and Other than Major Ports (OTMP) has increased to 2,818 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) as on March 2026 from ~1,400 MTPA in 2013-14. (c) One of the objectives of Sagarmala programme is better port connectivity, efficient cargo movement between ports and their respective hinterland to minimize overall logistics cost. Sagarmala programme has a dedicated pillar of port connectivity which focuses on the last mile and immediate hinterland connectivity of the ports via road, rail and inland waterways. Further, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of port connectivity and prepared a Comprehensive Port Connectivity Plan (CPCP) in 2022 by reviewing connectivity of the operational ports and identified the ports which needed improvement of road and/ or rail connectivity with nearby economic hubs. Subsequently, MoPSW in consultation with Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways has identified a total of 294 rail and road connectivity projects, out of which, 84 projects (63 Rail and 21 Road) have been completed, 66 projects (27 Rail and 39 Road) are under implementation, and a total of 144 projects (42 Rail and 102 Road) are under planning stage. The connectivity projects within the port limits are taken up by the Port Authorities and beyond the port limits are taken up by Ministries like MoR, MoRTH or State Governments. As regard to inland waterway connectivity projects, details of projects completed by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on National Waterways (NW) are as under: i. 3 Multi Modal Terminals (MMTs) and 01 intermodal terminal on NW 1 ii. 1 MMT and 3 IWT terminals on NW 2 iii. 9 IWT terminals on NW 3; iv. 02 Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminals in Ernakulam v. 01 Ro-Ro terminal on NW 4(d) The MoPSW has sanctioned financial assistance of ₹ 272 crore to 9 projects worth ₹ 1,286 crore under Sagarmala scheme in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the details of these projects are available at Annexure-II. These projects are related to Ro-Pax and passenger jetties, fishing harbours, port modernization and skill development.Annexure I Details of Completed and under Implementation projects pillar wise under Sagarmala Scheme: Pillars Completed projectsUnder implementation projects Number Cost (₹ Cr) Number Cost (₹ Cr) Coastal Shipping and IWT 25 1178.5 17 1167.7 Coastal Community Development 19 1912.6 28 3008.4 Port Modernization 18 870.2 6 160.8 Port Connectivity 17 1413.2 3 201.3 Grand Total 79 5374.5 54 4538.2Annexure - II List of Sagarmala-funded Projects in Andhra Pradesh: Sl. Name of Proj Implementing Status District Project MoPS N ect Agency cos W sha o. t re (₹ Cr) (₹ Cr) 1 Construction of Visakhapatna Completed Visakhapatna 43 30 coastal Berth m Port Authorit m at Visakhapatn y (VPA) am port 2 Construction of National HighwCompleted Visakhapatna 60 23.17 grade separat ays Authority o m or from H-7 aref India (NHAI) a to Port conne ctivity Road by passing Conve nt Junction - Vi sakhapatnam Port 3 2 to 4 laning of NHAI Completed Visakhapatna 77.00 20.00 port road conn m ectivity to NH – 5 -Phase II 4 Centre of ExcelIndian RegisterCompleted Visakhapatna 574.00 36.76 lence in Mariti of Shipping (I m me and Shipbu RS) ilding -CEMS - AP-18 out of 2 4 Labs in Andh ra Pradesh 5 Coastal District Ministry of Rur Completed Multiple district 0.14 0.14 s Skill Develop al Developmen s ment Program t - Phase I -And (DDU-GKY) hra Pradesh 6 Development o Andhra Prades Completed Nellore 288 69.14 f Fishing Harboh Maritime Infr ur in Juvvaladi astructure Dev nne in SPSR N elopment Corp ellore District, oration (APMID Andhra Prades CL) h7 Improvement o Andhra Prades Completed Kakinada 85.83 36.67 f Kakinada Anc h Maritime Boa horage Ports inrd frastructure in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh 8 Modernisation VPA Under Implem Visakhapatna 178.51 50.00 of Visakhapatn entation m am Fishing Har bour 9 Coastal District Ministry of Rur Under Implem Multiple district 5.98 5.98 s Skill Develop al Developmen entation s ment Program t - Phase 2 -And (DDU-GKY) hra Pradesh *****