Sagarmala Project

India has a 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. The 12 major and 200 non-major ports located along the Western and Eastern coastlines have so far been responsible for 90% of India’s trade by volume.

The Sagarmala project was launched to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Why This Project?

  • With the Union Government’s “Make in India” initiative, the share of merchandise trade in India’s GDP is expected to increase and approach levels achieved in developed countries. India lags far behind in ports and logistics infrastructure.
  • Against a share of 9% of railways and 6% of roads in the GDP the share of ports is only 1%. In addition, high logistics costs make Indian exports uncompetitive. Therefore, Sagarmala project has been envisioned to provide ports and the shipping the rightful place in the Indian economy and to enable port-led development.

Projects under Sagarmala

As part of Sagarmala Programme, more than 577 projects (Cost: Rs. 8.57 Lacs Cr.) have been identified for implementation, during 2015-2035, across the areas of port modernization & new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community development. As of 31-Mar-2018, a total of 492 projects (costing around Rs. 4.25 Lac Crore) were under various stages of implementation, development and completion.

CEZs and Port-led Industrialization

  • To promote port-led industrialization, 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) covering all the Maritime States and Union Territories have been proposed.
  • A CEZ is conceptualized as a spatial-economic region which could extend along 300-500 km of coastline and around 200-300 km inland from the coastline.
  • Each CEZ will be aligned to relevant major and non-major ports in the State and is envisaged to tap synergies with the planned industrial corridors.
  • CEZ perspective plans have been prepared and Detailed Master Plans will be prepared for 5 pilot CEZs (in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha) in the first phase of development.


Significance of this Project

  • This is the first of a kind project in India as it will be executed in the area of world’s 2nd highest tidal range.
  • This project on completion will result in reduction in motorable distance of 231 kms between Gogha and Dahej in Gujarat to mere 31 kms.
  • This project also paved way for launching India’s first roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel passenger ferry services on this route.
  • Besides, it will reduce the travel time to 1 hours from 7 hours which will result in fuel saving, reduction in CO2 emission and reduction in road congestion.
  • The project will also open up new avenues in coastal shipping & tourism and help in socio-economic development in proximate areas.
  • It will also help in utilization of inland waterways through river Narmada for shipping goods from industries located upstream.

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