Arising as one of the early movers under PM Gati Shakti, the national master plan for supporting multi-modal connectivity, the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways has recognised 101 projects for execution by 2024-25. The recognised projects cover many state-run ‘major ports’, which have recently got the freedom to decide the tariffs for several port-related services and the terms for private developers, thanks to the cancellation of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP). The recognised projects are in addition to the 80-odd Sagarmala projects that are underway, and cover many waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, minister for ports, shipping and waterways, said at a CII session. Under PM Gati Shakti, a goal has been set to boost cargo capacity at Indian ports to 1,759 mtpa by 2024-25, from 1,282 mtpa presently. The major-port sector has not witnessed the needed level of fixed assets creation to pare the nation's high logistic prices owing to legacy issues comprising the TAMP’s archaic regulatory grip. The recently announced Major Port Authorities Act 2021, the Inland Vessel Bill 2021, and expanding the ambit of coastal shipping would provide leverage to India’s maritime sector, and decrease the cost of logistics and supply-chain from 13% of GDP presently to 8% of GDP. The Gati Shakti Master Plan would collect data on the specific action plan of several ministries for close monitoring and timely execution of projects, Sonowal said. The 2.5 million tonnes coastal shipping berth at JNPT, with 11 hectares of cargo storage space, would allow coastal movement of bulk cargo within the nation, outside the customs-notified area. The Inland Vessel Bill 21, approved by the Parliament in August 2021, replacing the Inland Vessel Act, 1917, could make registration certification valid in all states and union territories once it is notified. Inland vessels would no longer need to take the approval of the states. The rules and regulations regularly applicable under the new law, instead of different rules in different states, would guarantee seamless and cost-effective trade with inland vessels using the waterways. Image Source