The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways provided a comprehensive update on the Sagarmala scheme, National Waterways performance, and coastal shipping initiatives. An independent third-party impact evaluation of Sagarmala projects was conducted by the National Productivity Council at the end of the 15th financial cycle, covering projects under port modernization, port connectivity, coastal community development, and coastal shipping and inland waterways development pillars, though no projects were sanctioned under the port led industrialization pillar.
During FY 2025-26, total cargo movement on National Waterways reached 218 million metric tons. To promote cargo traffic, the government approved the Jalvahak scheme providing 35% incentive to cargo owners and introduction of scheduled service on NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System), NW-2 (river Brahmaputra), and NW-16 (river Barak) via Indo Bangladesh Protocol by Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL).
Port efficiency showed significant improvement, with the average turnaround time of Major Ports reducing to 48.84 hours in 2025-26 from 52.87 hours in FY 2021-22. India's port infrastructure gained global recognition with Jawaharlal Nehru Port ranking 22nd in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2025, placing it alongside major international ports like Hong Kong (9th), Singapore (21st), and Shanghai (23rd).
The government has implemented multiple policy initiatives to attract private investment, including strengthening coastal-shipping infrastructure under Sagarmala through coastal berths, Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax and passenger jetties, and port-connectivity projects. The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to incentivize modal shift of cargo from road and rail to coastal shipping and inland waterways, targeting an increase in their combined modal share from 6% to 12% by 2047, which is expected to expand the addressable cargo base and generate private investment opportunities in vessels, terminals, ship repair, cargo handling and multimodal logistics.
Additional developments include the announcement of National Waterway-5 (NW-5) in Odisha to connect mineral-rich regions of Talcher and Angul with industrial centers and ports of Paradip and Dhamra, extension of the tonnage tax scheme to inland vessels registered under the Indian Vessels Act, 2021 announced in Union budget 2025-26, and the notification of National Waterways (Construction of Jetties / Terminals) Regulations 2025 allowing private companies to invest in and operate Inland Waterways terminals through a clear regulatory framework.