India Revives Port and Inland Shipping Projects

The Indian government will develop 10 coastal economic regions as part of plans to revive the country’s Sagarmala (string of ports) project, reports the Daily Shipping Times. The zones will be manufacturing hubs supported by port modernization projects and could cover 300-500km of coastline. 

The government is also looking to develop the inland waterway sector as an alternative to road and rail transport for getting goods to the nation’s ports and is hoping to attract private investment into the sector.

The first project to be developed on the Ganges River called Jal Marg Vikas will enable 1,500 ton vessels to navigate the route between Allahabad and Haldia. The project will be completed over six years with the assistance of the World Bank. Preliminary work on the 1,620 km waterway began in September, and the World Bank is anticipated to provide $50 million in financial assistance. 

Earlier in the year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that port development alone was not enough for India’s future economic development. “The port should be connected to all the corners of the country so people from land-locked states can send their produce quickly to the global market through ports.”

He said growth should be balanced across India, and special efforts should be made to ensure that the east, which is rich in natural resources, should be as developed as the western part of the country. He called for making a globally recognized “Brand India” famous for “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” manufacturing – free from defects and with no adverse impact on the environment. 

Modi said he wants maximum movement of men, money, machinery, materials and minerals across the country.