Occasionally there comes along an initiative that has the capacity to radically overhaul the rules of the game. This project launched by Ministry of Surface Transport will change the way the logistics industry operates in the country. The main objective is to promote port-led development of the country. Despite being blessed with perfect coastline with matching inland waterways, no major advantage of this was taken and hence no benefits accrued for the logistics or manufacturing industries. How is it being addressed? One, by investing heavily in the current ports, the initiative will turn them into international level ports. They will also be equipped with the most modern infrastructure. This will ensure the identification and development minor ports along the entire coastline. The Sagar Mala project will ensure the integration of major and minor ports with the hinterland by creating world class rail road and air network.
If this objective can be achieved transportation and logistics cost will reduce dramatically. This in turn will fuel competitive manufacturing in the country. Another aspect is the promotion of coastal shipping which is virtually non-existent in the country of our size. Commodities that can be moved such as bulk, fertilizers, steel and cement will cost less than half of road transportation. Another advantage that would accrue, port-based facilities would give a boost to ancillary and related industries like inland container depot, warehouses and port bunkering facilities.
Another aspect of this project is the promotion of water based tourist activities like sea planes, marinas, boating, inland water cruises. All these activities are in urgent need of infra facilities. If this can be addressed this project then it will be very good.
The Sagar Mala project is a strategic and customer-oriented Rs 8 trillion investment initiative of the government of India entailing setting up of 6+ mega ports, modernisation of several dozen more ports, development of 14+ Coastal Economic Zones and at least 29 Coastal Economic Units, development of mines, industrial corridors, rail, road and airport linkages with these water ports, resulting in USD 110 billion export revenue growth, generation of 150,000 direct jobs and several times more indirect jobs. It aims to modernise India’s ports so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute in India’s growth.
It also aims for “transforming the existing ports into modern world class ports and integrate the development of the ports, the industrial clusters and hinterland and efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways resulting in ports becoming the drivers of economic activity in coastal areas.”
It is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India schemes, such as Make in India, Bharatmala, dedicated freight corridors, industrial corridors, UDAN-RCS, BharatNet, Digital India, National e-Governance Plan, Start-up India and Stand-up India.
