The Sagarmala Programme, launched in March 2015, has completed 11 years of transforming India’s maritime and port infrastructure. Around 845 projects worth Rs 6.06 lakh crore have been taken up, with 315 projects worth Rs 1.57 lakh crore completed as of 24 March 2026.
About Sagarmala Programme
- Launched in March 2015 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- Aims to promote port-led development, improve logistics efficiency, reduce transportation costs and boost coastal shipping and inland waterways.
- India handles ~95% of trade by volume and ~70% by value through maritime routes.
Five Pillars of Sagarmala
- Port Modernisation and New Port Development: upgrading existing ports, mechanisation and digitalisation
- Port Connectivity Enhancement: multimodal transport networks integrating road, rail, coastal shipping and inland waterways
- Port-Led Industrialisation: industrial clusters in port-proximate areas
- Coastal Community Development: skill development, fisheries support and coastal tourism
- Coastal Shipping and Inland Waterways Transport: cost-effective and environment-friendly cargo movement
Institutional Framework
- National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC): constituted in May 2015; apex policy and oversight body
- Maritime States Development Council (MSDC): Centre-State coordination body
- State Sagarmala Committees (SSCs): project identification and monitoring at state level
- Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL): restructured from Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) in June 2025; India’s first NBFC focused on the maritime sector; approved loan sanctions of ~Rs 4,300 crore in December 2025
Key Achievements
Project Progress (as of 24 March 2026):
- Total projects taken up — 845 projects (Rs 6.06 lakh crore)
- Completed — 315 projects (Rs 1.57 lakh crore)
- Under implementation — 210 projects
- Under planning — 320 projects
Infrastructure & Capacity:
- 11 fishing harbour projects (Rs 1,057 crore) completed — benefiting 30,000+ fishermen
- 7 coastal berth projects (Rs 494 crore) completed — adding 84 MTPA cargo capacity
Port Performance:
- Major ports handled record 17 MT cargo in FY 2025-26 (target: 904 MT) — 7.06% YoY growth
- Average vessel turnaround time reduced from 96 hours (2014) to 49.5 hours (2025)
- 9 Indian ports rank among world’s top 100; Visakhapatnam among top 20 for container traffic
Inland Waterways Growth:
- Cargo movement grew from 10 MTPA (FY 2013-14) to 145.50 MTPA (FY 2024-25) — a growth of ~700%
Passenger & Ro-Pax Services:
- 29 Ro-Pax and ferry projects (Rs 1,233 crore) taken up; 17 completed benefiting 35 lakh+ passengers
- Ghogha–Hazira Ro-Pax reduced travel time from ~10 hours to ~4 hours by sea
- Mumbai–Mandwa ferry replaced a 109 km road journey with an 5 km sea route
Employment & Livelihoods:
- Estimated cumulative employment potential of ~1 crore jobs — 40 lakh direct + 60 lakh indirect
- 7,600+ candidates trained under DDU-GKY convergence; 3,100+ placed in maritime sectors