India’s maritime sector is heading into a high-growth era. At a Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) held in Puri, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal outlined a transformative strategy to double the share of coastal and inland waterway shipping in India’s freight movement from 6% to 12% by 2047.
As part of this expansion, Sonowal announced a flagship project: the development of the Puri International Cruise Terminal at an estimated cost of ₹1,500 crore. The ambitious project will be developed jointly by the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and the Government of Odisha.
Key Highlights of India’s Maritime Strategy
| Initiative / Metric | Target & Scope | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Puri International Cruise Terminal | ₹1,500 Crore Investment (Paradip Port Authority + Odisha Govt) | Position Odisha as an international ocean cruise hub. |
| Freight Share Expansion | Increase coastal/inland shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047 | Drastically reduces long-haul road/rail freight reliance. |
| Cruise Bharat Mission | Target: 1 Million sea cruise passengers by March 2029 | Creates 400,000 jobs in cruise tourism alone. |
| Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme | Incentives for cargo owners, vessel & multimodal operators | Boosts eco-friendly supply chains across waterways. |
| Overall Environmental & Economic Impact | Dual rollout of Coastal Cargo & Cruise initiatives | 560,000+ total jobs created & 16 million tons CO₂ saved. |
Transforming Coastlines into Engines of Growth
Speaking at the meeting attended by Minister of State Shantanu Thakur and eight Members of Parliament, Sonowal emphasized how India’s 11,000-plus kilometer coastline provides a natural edge for clean, cost-effective freight movement.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dynamic leadership, our coastline and our rivers are being turned into engines of growth. The Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and the Cruise Bharat Mission will move more cargo by sea and bring more visitors to our shores, creating jobs and protecting the environment.” — Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The growth momentum is already evident. Over the past 12 years, coastal cargo at Indian ports has jumped from 74 million metric tons to 177 million metric tons—a massive 140% surge.
Coastal Cargo Growth (Past 12 Years):
[2014] █████████ 74 MMT
[2026] ██████████████████████ 177 MMT (+140%)
Sea & River Cruise Boom
Cruise tourism in India has registered explosive growth. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, India logged 462,661 ocean cruise passengers across 212 vessel calls. This marks a 5.5-fold increase in passenger traffic and a 2.1-fold increase in vessel calls since 2013–14.
Beyond ocean liners, river cruising is expanding rapidly across India’s interior:
- 20 active river cruise circuits across 16 National Waterways are currently operational.
- 51 additional circuits have been earmarked for phased development.
- 143 river cruise terminals and landing points are already active.
In Odisha, the ministry is also advancing National Waterway No. 5, a ₹13,000+ crore project designed to connect the state’s industrial hubs, including Talcher and Kalinganagar, directly with east coast ports.
Sonowal expressed his gratitude to the participating MPs for their inputs, reiterating that the collective vision will propel India toward a sustainable, world-class maritime ecosystem under the Viksit Bharat agenda.
