DEVELOPMENT OF PORTS IN COASTAL STATES

The Sagarmala Programme was launched with the approval of the Union Cabinet on 25th March 2015, with a view to achieve the broad objective of promoting port-led development in India. The Government had formulated a Central Sector Scheme to provide financial support to Major Ports by way of grant for construction /up-gradation of coastal berths to promote coastal shipping which was later merged with Sagarmala Programme.

The Sagarmala Scheme intends to achieve the broad objectives of enhancing the capacity of major and non-major ports and modernizing them to make them efficient, thereby enabling them to become drivers of port led economic development. Non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Boards/State Governments. However, under Sagarmala Programme, Ministry provide financial assistance to State Government port infrastructure projects, coastal berth projects, road & rail projects, fishery harbours, skill development projects, Coastal community development, International standard cruise terminal and unique and innovative projects such as Ro-Pax ferry services etc

The State wise number and details of projects covered under 5 pillars of Sagarmala is annexed.

The waterway stretch from Lakhpat in Gujarat to Sanchaur in Jalore district in Rajasthan via Ran of Kutch is part of National Waterway-48 (Jawai – Luni Rivers and Ran of Kutch) declared vide the National Waterways Act, 2016. Based on the feasibility report and detailed hydrographic survey, the waterway has been found unviable for development of shipping and navigation.

Below table depicting state-wise number of projects funded under Sagarmala Scheme.

This information was given by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.