Sagarmala programme enhanced to Rs 6.5 lakh crore

The Shipping Ministry has increased the number of projects under the Sagarmala Programme to 1537, taking the total worth to Rs 6.5 lakh crores. This decision was taken at the National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) meeting on Friday.

Addressing journalists after the event, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "The new Sagarmala programme will also enhance the emphasis on holistic development of coastal areas. There are currently 802 projects worth Rs 5.5 lakh crores under Sagarmala program targeted to be executed by 2035."

A senior Shipping Ministry official told ET that identification of a project under the Sagarmala scheme will result in 50 per cent of the project cost being borne by the centre.


According to an official statement, 202 projects worth Rs 99,281 crores have been completed under the Sagarmala program till now.

"A total of 29 projects worth Rs 45,000 crores have been successfully implemented under the public private partnership (PPP) model. Additional 32 PPP projects worth Rs 51,000 crores are currently being implemented," the statement said.

It is estimated that another 200 projects worth Rs 2.12 lakh crores are under construction and expected to be completed in 2 years, the statement added.

Sonawal said that traffic handled during financial year 2021-22 at major ports reported a rise of 6.94 per cent over the last year.

"Five major ports recorded their highest ever traffic during fiscal 2021-22," he said adding that this has been possible on account of various infrastructure projects such as construction of new berths and terminals, mechanization of existing berths and terminals, capital dredging for deepening of drafts for attracting large vessels in port channels.

"Overall average turn around time reduced from 96 hours in 2014-15 to 52.80 hours in 2021-22 while container average turn around time at major ports also reduced from 35.21 hours in 2014-15 to 27.22 hours in 2021-22," Sonowal said.