Sarbananda Sonowal Public Record

Working paper · No. 11 · September 2026

Policy & Initiatives

A register of programmes, laws and schemes of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 2021–2026

Abstract

This register lists maritime initiatives in force or under way during Sarbananda Sonowal's term as Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. For each it records what the initiative is, when it was introduced, the responsible body, its stated objective, documented progress, current status and source. Progress is reported only where an official figure exists. Initiatives that began before July 2021 are included where they remain administered by the ministry; their origin is dated accordingly.

Sarbananda Sonowal and two officials hold up blue publications on a stage whose banner reads 07 January 2025, Gandhidham–Kandla
Fig. 11.1Releasing publications with officials at Gandhidham–Kandla on 7 January 2025, as shown on the event banner. PTI reported that during this visit to Deendayal Port he laid foundation stones for two Centres of Excellence, for green hydrogen and green maritime fuels. PTI via The Week

§1Maritime infrastructure

1.1Sagarmala Programme

What it is
The national programme for port-led development.
Introduced
March 2015; National Sagarmala Apex Committee set up May 2015
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Objective
Port modernisation and new ports, port connectivity, port-linked industrialisation and coastal community development.
Documented progress
845 projects with an estimated cost of ₹6.06 lakh crore; 315 completed (₹1.57 lakh crore), 210 under implementation and 320 at planning stage, as of 24 March 2026.
Current status
Ongoing. The Sagarmala Development Company was restructured as Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd in June 2025.

1.2Vadhavan Port

What it is
A new deep-draft Major Port at Vadhavan, Palghar district, Maharashtra.
Introduced
Approved by the Union Cabinet, 19 June 2024
Responsible
SPV of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (74%) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (26%)
Objective
Capacity of 298 million tonnes a year; project cost ₹76,220 crore including land.
Documented progress
Foundation stone laid by the Prime Minister at Palghar on 30 August 2024.
Current status
Under development

§2Digital maritime systems

2.1E-Samudra

What it is
A digital platform of the maritime administration.
Introduced
Launched by the Minister in Mumbai, 8 August 2026
Responsible
Directorate General of Maritime Administration (formerly DG Shipping)
Objective
Launched at a stakeholder meeting on seafarer security and welfare, alongside the e-NAVIK grievance-redressal and d-SEA services.
Documented progress
Launch recorded by PIB; no usage figures published at the time of writing.
Current status
Launched

§3Green ports

3.1Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines

What it is
Guidelines for environmental performance at Major Ports.
Introduced
Launched by the Minister in New Delhi, 10 May 2023
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Major Port Authorities
Objective
Moving Major Ports towards zero carbon emissions and zero waste discharge.
Documented progress
Guidelines issued and published by the ministry.
Current status
In force

3.2Green Tug Transition Programme

What it is
A programme to replace harbour tugs at Major Ports with tugs using cleaner propulsion.
Introduced
Announced March 2023 at Gurugram; standard operating procedure launched 16 August 2024
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Major Port Authorities
Objective
As announced in 2023, at least 50% of tugs at Major Ports to be green by 2030.
Documented progress
Steel cutting of the first all-electric green tug for Deendayal Port Authority, built by Atreya Shipyard, on 3 December 2025. PIB described the target then as 50 green tugs by 2030.
Current status
Under implementation

3.3Green hydrogen at Deendayal Port, Kandla

What it is
A green hydrogen plant and related centres at Deendayal Port.
Introduced
Foundation stones for two Centres of Excellence, 7 January 2025 (PTI); electrolysers flagged off, 18 March 2025
Responsible
Deendayal Port Authority
Objective
A 1 MW green hydrogen plant using electrolysers manufactured in India.
Documented progress
Electrolysers built by L&T at Hazira were flagged off online for the plant on 18 March 2025.
Current status
PIB has reported the commissioning of the 1 MW plant.

§4Inland water transport

4.1National Waterways Act, 2016 and Inland Vessels Act, 2021

What it is
The laws declaring National Waterways and governing inland vessels.
Introduced
Assent 25 March 2016 (Act 17 of 2016); assent 11 August 2021 (Act 24 of 2021)
Responsible
Inland Waterways Authority of India; Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Objective
Declaring 111 National Waterways; replacing the Inland Vessels Act of 1917 with a national framework.
Documented progress
32 National Waterways operational as of March 2026; cargo on National Waterways of 145.84 MMT in 2024–25 (PIB, restated figure).
Current status
In force

4.2Jal Marg Vikas Project (NW-1)

What it is
Capacity augmentation of National Waterway 1 on the Ganga, with World Bank support.
Introduced
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, 3 January 2018
Responsible
Inland Waterways Authority of India
Objective
Navigable depth of 2.2–3.0 m for about 330 days a year on the ~1,390 km Varanasi–Haldia stretch; cost about ₹5,061 crore.
Documented progress
Multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia, the Kalughat terminal and a new lock at Farakka completed. NW-1 cargo rose from 5.05 MMT (2014–15) to 16.38 MMT (2024–25).
Current status
Target completion was 30 June 2026; no completion notice had been located as of September 2026.

§5Seafarer welfare

5.1Seafarer security and welfare; ‘Sagar Mein Samman’

What it is
Measures on the welfare of Indian seafarers, and an initiative on women in the maritime sector.
Introduced
‘Sagar Mein Samman’, Mumbai, 18 May 2025; stakeholder meeting on seafarer security, Mumbai, 8 August 2026
Responsible
Directorate General of Maritime Administration; Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Objective
Safety, grievance redressal and welfare of seafarers; greater participation of women.
Documented progress
India had 311,936 seafarers in 2026, 12.16% of the global workforce, according to the BIMCO–ICS report cited by PIB.
Current status
Ongoing

§6Shipping reforms

Five maritime laws were passed by Parliament in 2025. Parliamentary dates are from the PRS Legislative Research bill tracker; assent dates are as reported.

Maritime laws passed in 2025, with dates of passage and assent
ActLok SabhaRajya SabhaAssent
Bills of Lading Act, 202510 Mar 202521 Jul 202524 Jul 2025
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 202528 Mar 20256 Aug 20258 Aug 2025
Coastal Shipping Act, 20253 Apr 20257 Aug 20259 Aug 2025
Merchant Shipping Act, 20256 Aug 202511 Aug 202518 Aug 2025
Indian Ports Act, 202512 Aug 202518 Aug 202521 Aug 2025

6.1Shipbuilding and maritime finance package

What it is
A four-part package for shipbuilding and maritime finance.
Introduced
Approved by the Union Cabinet, 24 September 2025
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; National Shipbuilding Mission
Objective
₹69,725 crore in total: Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (₹24,736 crore, to 31 March 2036), Maritime Development Fund (₹25,000 crore) and Shipbuilding Development Scheme (₹19,989 crore).
Documented progress
The Cabinet release projected about 30 lakh jobs and about ₹4.5 lakh crore of investment; these are projections, not outcomes.
Current status
Approved; under implementation

§7Logistics

7.1Sagar-Setu — National Logistics Portal (Marine)

What it is
The mobile application of the National Logistics Portal (Marine).
Introduced
Launched by the Minister, 31 March 2023
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Objective
Access to port and logistics services for importers, exporters and service providers on one platform.
Documented progress
India ranked 38th of 139 in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index 2023, up from 44th in 2018.
Current status
Operational

7.2Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route

What it is
Designated river routes for trade and transit between India and Bangladesh.
Introduced
Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, first signed 1972
Responsible
Inland Waterways Authority of India; Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority
Objective
Connecting National Waterways 1 and 2 and the North East through Bangladesh.
Documented progress
Cargo on protocol routes rose from 2.00 MT (2014–15) to 5.43 MT (2021–22). The first Patna–Pandu run via Bangladesh was received at Guwahati on 6 March 2022.
Current status
Operational

§8International maritime cooperation

8.1International Maritime Organization; India Maritime Week

What it is
India's membership of the IMO Council, and its international maritime events.
Introduced
IMO Council election, 34th IMO Assembly, London, November 2025; India Maritime Week, Mumbai, 27–31 October 2025
Responsible
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Objective
Participation in international maritime governance; investment and partnerships in the sector.
Documented progress
India re-elected to the IMO Council (Category B) for 2026–27 with 154 of 169 votes. India Maritime Week 2025 recorded more than 600 MoUs and over ₹12 lakh crore in announced investment commitments.
Current status
Council term 2026–27