Coastal Shipping Bill Introduced In Lok Sabha amid Din
PORTS & SHIPPING

Coastal Shipping Bill Introduced In Lok Sabha amid Din

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, introduced the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha amidst loud protests by opposition members, who raised concerns over recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal and the Adani issue.

The Bill proposes prohibiting trade in coastal waters by non-Indian vessels without a valid licence. It allows inland vessels to participate in coastal trade under specified conditions. To support this initiative, the Director-General will have the authority to issue licences, taking into account factors such as crew citizenship and vessel construction, aiming to create employment opportunities for Indian seafarers and boost the domestic shipbuilding industry.

Key provisions of the Bill include:
  • National Database: Establishing a comprehensive database for coastal shipping to enhance procedural transparency and enable efficient information sharing.
  • Strategic Plan: Drafting a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to foster growth and development in the sector.
  • Licence Protections: Ensuring that no licence is suspended, revoked, or altered without giving the licensee a fair opportunity to be heard.
  • India’s extensive coastline of approximately 7,500 km, coupled with its proximity to global shipping routes, underscores the potential of coastal shipping as a cost-effective alternative to other transportation modes.
However, the sector faces regulatory inconsistencies. Non-mechanised vessels are governed by the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838, while mechanised ones fall under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Bill aims to unify these regulatory frameworks.
Despite interruptions in the House proceedings, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, was introduced following a voice vote. Congress members Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi declined to speak on the Bill at its introduction, citing the disorderly state of the House.
The Bill is among five legislative measures scheduled for introduction during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, introduced the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha amidst loud protests by opposition members, who raised concerns over recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal and the Adani issue.The Bill proposes prohibiting trade in coastal waters by non-Indian vessels without a valid licence. It allows inland vessels to participate in coastal trade under specified conditions. To support this initiative, the Director-General will have the authority to issue licences, taking into account factors such as crew citizenship and vessel construction, aiming to create employment opportunities for Indian seafarers and boost the domestic shipbuilding industry.Key provisions of the Bill include:National Database: Establishing a comprehensive database for coastal shipping to enhance procedural transparency and enable efficient information sharing.Strategic Plan: Drafting a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to foster growth and development in the sector.Licence Protections: Ensuring that no licence is suspended, revoked, or altered without giving the licensee a fair opportunity to be heard.India’s extensive coastline of approximately 7,500 km, coupled with its proximity to global shipping routes, underscores the potential of coastal shipping as a cost-effective alternative to other transportation modes.However, the sector faces regulatory inconsistencies. Non-mechanised vessels are governed by the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838, while mechanised ones fall under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Bill aims to unify these regulatory frameworks.Despite interruptions in the House proceedings, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, was introduced following a voice vote. Congress members Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi declined to speak on the Bill at its introduction, citing the disorderly state of the House.The Bill is among five legislative measures scheduled for introduction during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?