Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has outlined the government’s plan to double the share of coastal and inland waterway shipping in India’s freight movement from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047 and attract one million sea cruise passengers by 2029.
Addressing a meeting of the ministry’s Consultative Committee in Puri, Odisha, on Tuesday, Sonowal said the targets would be supported by the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and the Cruise Bharat Mission, aimed at strengthening maritime connectivity, promoting sustainable transport and generating employment.
The minister also announced plans to develop the Puri International Cruise Terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore. The project will be undertaken by the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in partnership with the Odisha government.
The meeting, chaired by Sonowal, focused on strengthening coastal and cruise shipping. Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur and eight members of Parliament attended the discussions. The ministry’s secretary presented an overview of measures to promote coastal and cruise shipping.
“In the last 12 years under PM Narendra Modi, India’s maritime sector has undergone massive transformations,” Sonowal said.
Highlighting India’s maritime potential, the minister said the country has a coastline extending over 11,000 kilometres, providing opportunities to expand coastal shipping as a cleaner mode of freight transportation.
He said coastal cargo handled at Indian ports had increased from 74 million metric tonnes to 177 million metric tonnes over the past 12 years, registering growth of approximately 140 per cent.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dynamic leadership, our coastline and our rivers are being turned into engines of growth. The Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and the Cruise Bharat Mission will move more cargo by sea and bring more visitors to our shores, creating jobs and protecting the environment,” Sonowal said.
The Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, will provide incentives to cargo owners, coastal vessel operators and multimodal transport operators to encourage the movement of freight through coastal shipping and integrated transport networks.
Referring to the cruise tourism sector, Sonowal said India recorded 462,661 ocean cruise passengers and 212 vessel calls during the 2025-26 financial year. These figures represent a 5.5-fold increase in passenger traffic and a 2.1-fold rise in vessel calls compared with 2013-14.
The Cruise Bharat Mission, launched in September 2024, aims to attract one million sea cruise passengers and generate 400,000 jobs by March 2029.
The minister said 20 river cruise circuits across 16 National Waterways are currently operational, while another 51 circuits have been identified for phased development. A total of 143 river cruise terminals and landing points are also operational across the country.
According to Sonowal, the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and Cruise Bharat Mission are together expected to create more than 560,000 jobs and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16 million metric tonnes.
He also highlighted the proposed development of National Waterway No. 5 in Odisha, with an estimated investment exceeding Rs 13,000 crore. The project aims to connect major industrial and mining centres, including Talcher and Kalinganagar, with ports along the eastern coast, improving cargo connectivity and logistics efficiency.
During the meeting, members of Parliament welcomed the government’s initiatives to strengthen the maritime sector and offered suggestions for improving maritime infrastructure across different regions.
“I extend my deep gratitude to the MPs for their valuable insights and suggestions, which will help shape this journey,” Sonowal said.
“Led by PM Modi’s vision, we are steadily advancing towards a competitive, sustainable and thriving maritime ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat,” he added.
-PIB
