MANGALURU: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said that the Union Government is targeting investments worth Rs 80 lakh crore under the ‘Sagarmala’ programme to generate millions of jobs and transform India’s port infrastructure to global standards.
Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), Sonowal said India is poised to emerge as a global hub for shipbuilding, repair and port enhancement in the coming decades. “We will be leading the shipbuilding industry, which is currently dominated by China, Japan and Korea. By 2030, India will be among the top 10 nations in shipbuilding and by 2047, among the top five. Over 20 lakh jobs will be created in the shipping sector,” he said.
He said shipbuilding clusters are being developed in coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, where local maritime policies are already taking shape. “We will not depend on foreign countries for spare parts... every component required will be manufactured within our own country,” he said.
He said his ministry is working on a roadmap to raise the nation’s port-handling capacity from 2,700 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 10,000 MMT by 2047. “Every project will be executed within a fixed timeline. We are also working to reduce logistics costs, which will benefit traders, manufacturers and farmers,” he said.
Applauding NMPA’s progress over the last five decades, Sonowal described it as “not an ordinary port but a modern, competitive and efficient one” that reflects India’s maritime transformation.
“The turnaround time at NMPA has dropped from 96 hours to 35 hours, making it globally competitive. A dedicated fishing port is being built to support the local fisher community, while cruise operations are boosting tourism and local businesses,” he said.
Sonowal said that NMPA’s profits have multiplied fivefold, leading to more employment opportunities for locals. The port’s cargo handling has increased from just 90,000 MT in its early years to 46 MMT, with a target of 100 MMT by 2047.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, speaking at the event, underscored the vital role of waterways in driving India’s exports, noting that nearly 70% of the country’s outbound trade takes place through the maritime route. He said India’s exports reached $820 billion in 2024-25, and efforts are underway to reduce logistics costs from 8-9% to 4-6%. Joshi also revealed that trials are being conducted to retrofit ships with green hydrogen fuel. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta urged the minister to establish a maritime university in Mangaluru.
NMPA Chairman AV Ramana said over Rs 50,000 crore in capital investment is expected at the port during the Amrit Kaal period, expressing confidence that cargo handling will reach 100 MMT by 2047. As part of the jubilee celebrations, eight major infrastructure projects were inaugurated. Under CSR initiative, NMPA donated three police patrol vehicles, two ambulances and school buses.