Pratik Bijlani –
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a high-level review meeting of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways following the Prime Minister-led Council of Ministers meeting, outlining an ambitious reform-driven agenda aimed at accelerating India’s maritime transformation in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.
The meeting focused on strengthening governance, improving ease of doing business, enhancing digital integration, ensuring effective grievance redressal, and fast-tracking implementation of key maritime initiatives through structured monitoring and accountability mechanisms. As part of the reform push, the Minister announced the launch of a nationwide “Maritime Reform Utsav” to commemorate 12 years of transformation in India’s maritime sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
The proposed celebration will showcase India’s progress in ports, shipping, inland waterways, coastal infrastructure, green shipping, digitalisation, and maritime connectivity, reflecting the country’s emergence as a globally competitive maritime nation. Sonowal stated that India’s maritime sector has undergone unprecedented transformation through the government’s “Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform” approach.
A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to develop an integrated digital platform and mobile application under the aegis of the Directorate General of Shipping. The platform is expected to provide real-time service delivery, digital documentation, stakeholder interaction, integrated maritime services, and an enhanced grievance redressal mechanism through a unified digital ecosystem.
The Minister also directed officials to establish a dedicated monitoring and coordination mechanism for speedy disposal of grievances, legal matters, and pending ministry cases through periodic reviews and inter-agency coordination. Emphasis was laid on improving stakeholder outreach, strengthening industry consultations, enhancing skill development, and leveraging Artificial Intelligence and data-driven governance for greater operational efficiency.
The review further underlined the importance of stronger coordination among ministries, state governments, ports, maritime institutions, and industry stakeholders to accelerate project implementation and support India’s long-term vision of becoming a leading global maritime and logistics hub.
Marex Media