Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has shared that Indian ports are set to compete with the best ports in the world. The nine years of the ministry’s initiatives under the flagship program of Sagarmala are especially noteworthy. Incredible achievements of the ports have been made in Fiscal Year 2022-23 (FY23). A record-breaking 795 million tonne of cargo was handled, with a 10.4 per cent year-on-year growth. An auspicious operating ratio of 48.54 per cent was achieved, alongside the highest-ever output per day of 17,239 mil tonne. India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) also set a precedent with over 6 million TEUs handled. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has led to a 114 per cent increase in Indian seafarers from 2014 to 2022.
Digital initiatives such as the National Logistic Portal (LP)-Marine and Sagar-Setu app have been launched to lower logistical costs and make operations more efficient. Major ports are thus becoming more ‘smart’; with the installation of gate automation, enterprise business solutions, container scanners, etc. Hydrogen bunkering is also on the rise, with Deendayal, Paradip, and V O Chidambaranar ports looking to develop necessary infrastructure. FICCI-CRISIL Knowledge Paper on ‘Smart, Safe & Sustainable Ports’ is the latest addition in this regard. This paper looks into the key elements that contribute to creating these ports.
FICCI committee chairman, Dhruv Kotak, praised the government’s commitment to green port initiatives. These include emission management activities and focusing on scope one, scope two, and scope three emissions. The green port policy endeavours to transform port systems as we know them.
The FICCI-CRISIL Knowledge paper was also launched by Minister Sonowal. It deals with the importance of incorporating technology into port operations for optimal efficiency, and sustainable port development.
