IANS | 07 Jan, 2024
The country’s major ports are continuing to significantly improve
their key operational performance parameters during the current
financial year as they have handled higher cargo volumes with faster
loading and unloading operations to enable ships to return more quickly
as compared to the previous year.
India has now risen to the 22nd rank in the International
Shipment category in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI)
Report from the 44th position in 2014.
The efficiency is reflected
in the fact that the "Turn Around Time" at Indian ports has reached 0.9
days which is better than the US (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days) and
Singapore (1.0 days), according to official figures.
Digital
services such as the Sagar-Setu mobile app have helped to improve the
Ease of Doing Business further. It facilitates real-time port operations
and monitoring and provides handled services to the port fraternity for
accessing vessel, cargo, container, finance, and regulatory authority
data and services, thereby improving the customer experience.
India's
maritime sector is set to transform with a comprehensive roadmap
launched during the Global Maritime India Summit, involving an
investment of Rs 80,000 lakh crores.
The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,
formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, builds on
the Maritime India Vision 2030 and aims to develop world class ports
and promote inland water transport, coastal shipping, and a sustainable
maritime sector.
The vision unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi recently at the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023
encompasses aspirations in Logistics, Infrastructure, and Shipping,
supporting India's 'Blue Economy'.
The vision, shaped through wide
consultations with various stakeholders and the analysis of 50
international benchmarks outlines more than 300 actionable initiatives
for enhancing ports, shipping and waterways by 2047.
Minister of
Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal has announced the drawing up of a
comprehensive plan to achieve a 10,000 MTPA port capacity by 2047.
The
global summit witnessed the signing of 360 MoUs worth Rs 8.35 lakh
crore, and additional investible projects worth Rs 1.68 lakh crore were
announced.
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for eleven
projects, totalling Rs 14,440 crore, and eleven projects valued at Rs
8,924 crore were dedicated to the Nation.
“Over the past 9 years,
our efforts have transformed the maritime sector, with a remarkable 4.2
billion US dollars in Foreign Direct Investments, driving progress in
this vital industry. India's ports now lead globally, boasting a mere
0.9-day turnaround time, outperforming even international hubs like
Singapore and Dubai,” according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The
Shipping and Ports Ministry has also launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green
Port Guidelines to meet the larger vision of achieving the zero carbon
emission goal. Four major ports, namely, Deendayal Port (Kandla),
Visakhapatnam Port, New Mangalore Port and VOC Port (Tuticorin) are
already generating renewable energy more than their demand.
The
Shipping Ministry’s focus on sustainable development with green ports
and shipping, is tracking Norway and other leading maritime nations
which are defining best practises and setting standards that the rest of
the world should follow.
India plans to develop carbon neutrality
among other globally trending areas on reduction of GHG emissions with
the use of green fuels, electrified/renewable energy-based yard
equipment and vehicles.
