Sagarmala

The Sagarmala Programme is an initiative by the government of India to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics sector. The programme envisages unlocking the potential of waterways and the coastline to minimize infrastructural investments required to meet these targets.

• The project entails investing Rs. 8.5 trillion (2018) to set up new mega ports, modernizing India’s existing ports, developing of 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) and Coastal Employment Units, enhancing port connectivity via road, rail, multi-modal logistics parks, pipelines & waterways and promoting coastal community development, with the aim of boosting merchandise exports by US $110 billion and generating around 1 crore direct and indirect jobs.
• As a part of Sagarmala Programme, more than 800 projects at an estimated cost of around 5.54 lakh crore have been identified for implementation during 2015 to 2035.

Components of Sagarmala Programme

• Port Modernization & New Port Development: De-bottlenecking and capacity expansion of existing ports and development of new Greenfield ports
• Port Connectivity Enhancement: Enhancing the connectivity of the ports to the hinterland, optimizing cost and time of cargo movement through multi-modal logistics solutions including domestic waterways (inland water transport and coastal shipping).
• Port-linked Industrialization: Developing port-proximate industrial clusters and Coastal Economic Zones to reduce logistics cost and time of export-import and domestic cargo.
• Coastal Community Development: Promoting sustainable development of coastal communities through skill development & livelihood generation activities, fisheries development, coastal tourism etc.
• Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transport: Impetus to move cargo through the sustainable and environment-friendly coastal and inland waterways mode.

Performance

• Giving special emphasis to modernization of Indian ports, 241 projects at cost of Rs.2.61 lakh crore have been taken up for implementation under Sagarmala. Out of 241 projects, total 78 projects worth Rs. 27,019 crore have been completed, adding capacity of more than 230 MTPA at Major Ports. Remaining 163 projects are currently under various stages of development and implementation.
• There are 190 road and rail connectivity projects worth Rs. 1.22 lakh crore identified for implementation under Sagarmala focusing on connectivity of Major and Non-Major ports. Out of which, 51 projects have been completed and 139 projects are in various stages of development and implementation.