Page 19 - ITLN January - February 2024 Issue for the Website

Mundra is the largest private port. In services are provided by both foreign
2017, the government started the Sagar and Indian-flagged ships, often
Mala Program to boost development operating in consortium liner shipping
through ports and support logistics- arrangements. These services cater to
related industries. The program plans general cargo, whether in break-bulk or
to invest $123 billion in 415 projects. containerized form. Moreover, for bulk
Both the Sagar Mala and Maritime India's major ports grew cargo, whether imported or exported,
India Vision initiatives aim to tap into by 5.0% from April to transshipment services are accessible
additional opportunities, including through chartered arrangements,
achieving an annual revenue of $2.7 December 2023-24, involving both Indian and foreign
billion from existing assets and reaching 604.76 million vessels. This comprehensive approach
creating employment. The goal is to tonnes compared to aims to support and optimize the
generate 2 million direct and indirect 576.11 million tonnes logistics involved in international trade.
jobs by the year 2030. The government handled during the same Currently, the maximum size of
has launched the National Maritime period in 2022-23. the vessels, that can be built in India
Development Programme (NMDP) in the public sector is 1,10,000 DWT
to foster the growth of the maritime which is increasing to build vessels up
sector, allocating a planned budget of $ to 3,00,000 DWT by Cochin Shipyard
11.8 billion. In the Union Budget 2023- Overseas cargo handled Limited while Private sector shipyards
24, the Ministry of Shipping received a at Major Ports saw a can build vessels up to cape size
total allocation of $ 1,813.16 million. 5.5% increase, moving vessels comparable to some of the
There are 46 Public-Private Partnership leading shipyards in the world.
(PPP) projects valued at approximately from 443.87 million The maritime transport sector
$ 4.49 billion in major ports. tonnes in April-December is significantly influenced by global
According to studies conducted 2022-23 to 468.12 million economic trends, particularly the
under the Sagarmala Programme, it is tonnes in April-December expansion of worldwide production
anticipated that cargo traffic at ports 2023-24. and trade. The quantity of seaborne
will reach approximately 2,500 million cargo traffic managed by ports is
metric tons per annum (MMTPA) by primarily determined by fluctuations
2025. However, the current cargo projects with a total value of $ 10.71 in both international and domestic
handling capacity of ports stands billion (Rs. 78,611 crores). Among these, activities. According to data published
at 2,406 MMTPA. To address this, a 81 projects, valued at $ 3.29 billion (Rs. by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and
roadmap has been devised to increase 24,113 crore), have been completed, Waterways of India, cargo traffic at
India's port capacity to over 3,300 and 59 projects, totaling $ 3.31 billion India's major ports grew by 5.0% from
MMTPA by 2025, accommodating the (Rs. 24,288 crore), are currently in April to December 2023-24, reaching
projected growth in traffic. This plan the implementation phase. India has 604.76 million tonnes compared to
involves enhancing port operational reached 22nd rank in the International 576.11 million tonnes handled during the
efficiency, expanding the capacity of Shipment category. same period in 2022-23.
existing ports, and developing new Concerning maritime transportation However, despite this positive
ports. There are 206 port modernisation to foreign destinations, a variety of growth, India's ports also face

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