Shipping Ministry Plans Rs 250 Bn Maritime Development Fund

22 Aug 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is preparing to launch a Rs 250 billion Maritime Development Fund (MDF) within the next three to six months, alongside a parallel fund of about Rs 250 billion for shipbuilding clusters. Cabinet note preparations are underway, with both proposals expected to be taken up for approval soon.

The MDF, announced in the Union Budget earlier this year, is aimed at providing low-cost, long-term financing for the shipping and port ecosystem. The fund will adopt a blended finance model, with 49 per cent of the capital coming as concessional government support and the remaining 51 per cent through commercial sources. Despite this structure, the government will retain ownership and control.

The fund will target maritime infrastructure projects for both major ports and private stakeholders and will offer multiple financial instruments to attract domestic and international investors. The Sagarmala Development Finance Corporation, a non-banking finance company, may play a role in disbursals. Officials said participation from multilateral and bilateral agencies, sovereign wealth funds and global investors is expected.

In parallel, a separate fund for shipbuilding clusters is being considered to strengthen India’s capacity in shipbuilding and repair, reduce dependence on foreign yards and create a globally competitive ecosystem. The clusters are expected to include infrastructure development, skilling initiatives and technology support. A blended finance model is also being explored, with central and state governments, ports and shipyards contributing to the fund.

The initiatives follow Parliament’s recent approval of five maritime Bills aimed at replacing colonial-era legislation and improving ease of doing business in the sector.

News source: The Hindu Businessline

Infrastructure Urban

03 Oct 2025

Indian REITs Association Joins Global REIT Alliance

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has become a member of the Global REIT Alliance, a coalition representing the global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. The alliance, launched at the European Public Real Estate Association’s 2025 ReThink conference in Stockholm, aims to promote cross-border cooperation, policy dialogue, and market standardisation for the growth of REITs as an investment asset class.The Global REIT Alliance, which includes members from 24 countries, focuses on promoting global awareness of securitised real estate, supporting sustainable investment, providing indust..

Vande Bharat May Soon Connect Chennai and Rameswaram

Southern Railway plans to introduce a Vande Bharat Express between Chennai and Rameswaram following the completion of electrification on the 53-km Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram section.A proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board to operate the new daytime service from either Chennai Egmore or Tambaram, aiming to ease congestion on existing overnight trains along the 600–660 km route.Officials noted that while the section is cleared for electric locomotives, a 220-metre gap near Uchipuli will undergo trials before the Vande Bharat is introduced. The final route will consider travel time,..

RITES Partners with Etihad Rail to Boost Infrastructure Collaboration

RITES, a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based Etihad Rail to enhance business collaboration with its subsidiary, National Infrastructure Construction Company (NICC).The partnership aims to combine RITES’ five decades of expertise in consultancy, transport infrastructure, and engineering with NICC’s execution capabilities, creating synergies for infrastructure projects across the UAE and other regions.The MoU was signed by HE Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Di..