Critical port linking projects to get Rs 1 trillion Gati Shakti push

01 Mar 2023 CW Team

Sonowal claimed that the cost of moving products via the shipping route is always lower, as he addressed Punjab's concerns about rising power rates due to coal movement via coastal shipping.

The ministry of Sonowal is keeping an eye on the implementation of Sagarmala, an ambitious strategy for enhancing port connections and boosting coastal districts. The initial plan included 802 projects with a budget of Rs 5.4 trillion. Meanwhile, during the most recent Sagarmala Apex Body meeting in May of last year, 567 new projects with an estimated cost of Rs 590 trillion were added.

"This is part of the Holistic Coastal District Development Plan, which spans Gujarat and Bengal. 220 of these projects have already been completed, 230 have reached the implementation phase, and the remaining are in various phases of development "He stated.

In addition to these, Sonowal stated that port connectivity is being improved by additional initiatives. "There is a Rs 1 trillion PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, which has given us additional opportunities by bringing 18 infrastructure-related ministries together to work under one single banner," he said, adding that 100 critical projects have been identified, including improved rail and road connectivity between various ports.

"Rs 750 billion would be invested for this, with Rs 150 billion coming from private entities, which is quite positive," Sonowal said, adding that this aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of empowering India through boosting capacity building and efficiency.

Increased port access will augment the Centre's aim to move coal via coastal shipping routes, easing pressure on Indian Railways during peak power demand months.

Also Read
Andhra Pradesh government plans to create IT concept cities
Dalmia Cement bags coal mine in Madhya Pradesh

According to Sarbananda Sonowal, the minister for ports, shipping, and waterways, the Centre has set aside more than Rs 1 trillion for 100 essential port connectivity projects under the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan. Sonowal claimed that the cost of moving products via the shipping route is always lower, as he addressed Punjab's concerns about rising power rates due to coal movement via coastal shipping. The ministry of Sonowal is keeping an eye on the implementation of Sagarmala, an ambitious strategy for enhancing port connections and boosting coastal districts. The initial plan included 802 projects with a budget of Rs 5.4 trillion. Meanwhile, during the most recent Sagarmala Apex Body meeting in May of last year, 567 new projects with an estimated cost of Rs 590 trillion were added. This is part of the Holistic Coastal District Development Plan, which spans Gujarat and Bengal. 220 of these projects have already been completed, 230 have reached the implementation phase, and the remaining are in various phases of development He stated. In addition to these, Sonowal stated that port connectivity is being improved by additional initiatives. There is a Rs 1 trillion PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, which has given us additional opportunities by bringing 18 infrastructure-related ministries together to work under one single banner, he said, adding that 100 critical projects have been identified, including improved rail and road connectivity between various ports. Rs 750 billion would be invested for this, with Rs 150 billion coming from private entities, which is quite positive, Sonowal said, adding that this aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of empowering India through boosting capacity building and efficiency. Increased port access will augment the Centre's aim to move coal via coastal shipping routes, easing pressure on Indian Railways during peak power demand months. Also Read Andhra Pradesh government plans to create IT concept cities Dalmia Cement bags coal mine in Madhya Pradesh

Infrastructure Urban

09 Apr 2026

Mineral Auction Rules Amended To Speed Mine Operationalisation

The Ministry of Mines notified the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2026 on 30 March 2026 to accelerate operationalisation of mines and improve ease of doing business in the mining sector. The amendment follows a prior change to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 effected on 17 October 2025 that introduced intermediary timelines between issuance of a letter of intent (LoI) and execution of the mining lease. The 2025 change provided that one per cent of performance security would be appropriated for each month of delay by the preferred bidder and introduced incentives for early operatio..

Infrastructure Transport

09 Apr 2026

Indian Railways Strengthens Telecom And AI Safety Systems

Indian Railways strengthened its telecom and digital infrastructure during 2025-26 with the aim of improving safety, operational efficiency and the passenger experience. The programme promoted modernisation through advanced technologies, robust communication systems and passenger-centric solutions. These measures were presented as part of a drive to build a digitally integrated rail ecosystem. A key development was the enhancement of the Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) backbone, commissioned at 1,396 stations to meet bandwidth needs of mission-critical applications. ..

Infrastructure Transport

09 Apr 2026

NHAI Holds Workshop on Litigation Management and Coordination

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) organised a day-long workshop in New Delhi to strengthen capacity and interdepartmental synergy for faster execution of national highway projects. The event was held under Mission Karmayogi – Sadhana Saptah, an initiative of the Government of India to enhance governance through capacity building and improved processes. The workshop focused on structured and solution oriented deliberations to address implementation constraints. The session was chaired by the NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and brought together senior officials from NHAI, the M..