Sonowal Unveils Reform-Driven Maritime Roadmap to Accelerate India’s Rise as Global Maritime Power

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has outlined an ambitious reform-oriented roadmap aimed at transforming India into a globally competitive maritime power in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” The roadmap was presented during a high-level review meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), where the focus remained on governance reforms, digital transformation, infrastructure modernization and faster implementation of key maritime initiatives.

The comprehensive review meeting emphasized strengthening institutional accountability, improving ease of doing business (EODB), enhancing grievance redressal mechanisms and accelerating maritime sector reforms through structured governance and technology-driven systems. Officials discussed strategies to improve coordination across departments while ensuring that maritime development aligns with India’s long-term economic and logistics ambitions.

A major highlight of the meeting was the announcement of a nationwide “Maritime Reform Utsav” to commemorate 12 years of transformative reforms and growth in India’s maritime sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative will showcase India’s achievements in ports, shipping, inland waterways, coastal infrastructure, green shipping, maritime connectivity and digitalization.

Speaking during the review, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal stated that India’s maritime sector has undergone unprecedented transformation through the guiding principles of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform.” He said the Maritime Reform Utsav would celebrate India’s emergence as a modern, efficient and globally competitive maritime nation capable of playing a major role in global trade and logistics networks.

The Minister directed officials to establish a structured and time-bound mechanism for expeditious disposal of grievances, legal matters, court cases and pending ministry-related issues. A dedicated monitoring and coordination committee will be constituted to conduct regular reviews, strengthen accountability and ensure timely resolution of all pending matters.

Emphasizing citizen-centric governance, Sonowal stated that grievance redressal should focus not merely on procedural disposal but on meaningful ground-level resolution. He instructed departments to improve monitoring systems and ensure effective follow-up on public representations and stakeholder concerns.

In a major push toward digital governance and improved ease of doing business, the Ministry also decided to develop an integrated digital platform and mobile application under the Directorate General of Shipping. The proposed digital ecosystem will offer stakeholders real-time service delivery, digital documentation, integrated maritime services and online grievance redressal facilities through a unified interface.

Officials stated that the digital platform is expected to significantly reduce procedural delays, improve transparency and simplify regulatory interactions for businesses, shipping companies, port operators and other maritime stakeholders.

The review meeting further resolved to undertake a detailed gap analysis and assessment of the progress achieved in India’s maritime sector over the last 12 years. The exercise will evaluate reforms and infrastructure development projects in alignment with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” while identifying areas that require accelerated policy support, institutional strengthening and capacity enhancement.

Shri Sonowal stressed the importance of stronger coordination among ministries, state governments, port authorities, maritime institutions and industry stakeholders to ensure faster execution of major maritime and logistics projects. He directed officials to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination frameworks and institutional consultations for smoother policy implementation and project monitoring.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of collaborative governance and greater stakeholder participation in consultative meetings involving industry representatives, state authorities and maritime institutions. According to him, continuous dialogue and knowledge-sharing are essential for addressing emerging sectoral challenges and unlocking the full potential of India’s maritime economy.

Recognizing the rapidly evolving needs of the maritime sector, Sonowal instructed departments to expand skill development initiatives, specialized maritime training programmes and capacity-building efforts. He highlighted the importance of developing expertise in areas such as digital governance, logistics integration, data management and emerging maritime technologies to meet future growth requirements.

The review also focused extensively on leveraging Artificial Intelligence, digital systems and data-driven governance for improving operational efficiency, service delivery and transparency across the maritime ecosystem. The Minister directed officials to accelerate technological integration and strengthen institutional data-sharing mechanisms for better policy outcomes and real-time monitoring.

To ensure accountability and timely implementation, Sonowal instructed all departments to conduct regular review meetings based on measurable targets and clearly defined timelines. He emphasized that every ministry initiative should be monitored through performance indicators and continuous assessment frameworks to ensure effective execution.

Highlighting the role of communication in nation-building, the Union Minister directed officials to significantly strengthen stakeholder outreach and public engagement efforts. He called for innovative communication strategies using digital campaigns, reels, graphics, awareness drives and institutional outreach programmes to connect with wider audiences, especially the youth.

“India’s maritime transformation under the dynamic leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji must reach the people. Our reforms, opportunities and achievements should be communicated effectively through both traditional and digital platforms so that young Indians see the maritime sector as a dynamic avenue for nation-building and employment generation,” Sonowal stated during the meeting.

The Minister further directed the formation of a dedicated monitoring committee to oversee implementation of strategic outcomes and commitments arising from the Prime Minister’s recent five-day, five-nation foreign visit. The committee will ensure timely coordination, follow-up and adherence to implementation timelines for all maritime-related initiatives linked to the visit.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to governance reforms and efficient public service delivery, Sonowal instructed all ministry divisions to identify implementation bottlenecks and work under the guiding framework of “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform.”

The Minister concluded by emphasizing that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways must continue functioning with a proactive, accountable and reform-driven work culture aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of good governance, maritime expansion and inclusive national development.