SMFCL Sets Rs 250 Bn Plan To Boost Maritime Finance

24 Nov 2025 CW Team

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), a Mini-Ratna CPSE under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, held its Annual General Meeting and approved a forward-looking roadmap to strengthen India’s maritime financing ecosystem. The Board sanctioned an overall borrowing limit of Rs 250 billion, with Rs 80 billion allocated for the current financial year. To meet this requirement, SMFCL will mobilise funds through major banks, financial institutions and bond issuances under its resource-mobilisation plan, enabling the Corporation to begin lending operations shortly.

SMFCL is currently in discussions with leading rating agencies. With a positive sector outlook and a strong project pipeline, the Corporation is expected to secure ratings in the apex scale, boosting investor confidence and helping reduce borrowing costs.

As part of its strategic vision, SMFCL has established a comprehensive financing framework covering the entire maritime value chain. Funding will extend to ports, port-connectivity projects, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development, coastal shipping and inland waterways, with a strong focus on vessel financing.

The Corporation is also set to support India’s shipbuilding ambitions by providing financial solutions that help expand domestic capabilities and strengthen the nation’s global competitiveness. To meet varied requirements across the sector, SMFCL will offer customised loan products to eligible public and private entities. These will include short-, medium- and long-term financing options, support for cash-flow mismatches and non-fund-based instruments.

Infrastructure Urban

05 May 2026

Meghalaya And Assam Hold Talks To End Transport Stoppages In Garo Hills

Meghalaya and Assam have opened talks aimed at ending recent stoppages of commodity transport in the Garo Hills, officials said. The deputy chief minister, in charge of home affairs, reported that both state governments are coordinating to resolve disruptions and to restore normal movement of goods. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may have contributed to the incidents and that clarification between administrative units is under way. The discussions are intended to produce practical arrangements that will allow consignments to move without hindrance while respecting local procedures. The..

Kochi Metro Records 1.375 mn Rise In Passengers In FY26

Kochi Metro recorded a marginal rise in ridership in the financial year 2025-26, carrying 1.375 mn more passengers than in the previous year. The service carried 36.8 million (mn) passengers in 2025-26 compared with 35.5 mn in 2024-25, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 per cent. The growth was described as distributed rather than concentrated in isolated spikes. A month-wise analysis shows steady gains across quarters. In the first quarter, ridership increased from 8.57 mn to 8.84 mn, while the second quarter rose from 9.13 mn to 9.51 mn. These trends indicated broad-based improvemen..

Ghaziabad Plans 16km Metro Link To Delhi Via Hindon Airport

Ghaziabad authorities are pursuing a 16 km metro link to Delhi that will run via Hindon Airport, and a detailed project report is under way. The plan is intended to improve connectivity between Ghaziabad and the national capital and to provide an interchange with the airport. Officials said the project is being studied to assess alignments, station locations and cost estimates ahead of formal approvals and tendering. The announcement follows the inauguration of the Delhi?Faridabad metro extension, which will offer hassle free travel for around 0.2 mn daily commuters between the national capita..