10 years of Sagarmala Programme

Posted 04 Sep 2025

Updated 10 Sep 2025

3 min read

Article Summary

The Sagarmala Programme, launched in 2015, has improved coastal shipping, reduced costs, and promoted maritime innovation, aiming to boost India's economy, jobs, and sustainability over a decade.

Why in the News?

Sagarmala Programme has achieved 118% growth in coastal shipping over the last decade, reducing logistics costs and emissions.

About Sagarmala Programme

Ministry: Launched in 2015 by Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).
Aim: To accelerate economic development in the country by harnessing the potential of India's 11,098km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways.
Key Objective:
Funding Structure: Public-Private Partnership, Internal & Extra Budgetary Resources by MoPSW, Grant-in-Aid for projects with high social impact and Equity through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
Sagarmala 2.0: Launched in 2025 with Focus Areas including Shipbuilding, repair, breaking, and recycling and port modernization.

Reduce logistics cost for Export-Import (EXIM) and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment,
Enhanced domestic waterways (inland and coastal) in the multi-modal transport,
Create jobs and develop skills in ports and maritime sector.

Institutional Framework for Implementing Sagarmala Programme:
- Apex body: National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) Chaired by Minister of Shipping for policy direction and oversight of the Programme.
- Sagarmala Coordination and Steering Committee (SCSC): Under chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to provide coordination between ministries, state governments and agencies to implement the projects.
- State Sagarmala Committee: Chaired by Chief Minister / Minister in Charge of Ports for Coordinating and facilitating Sagarmala related projects and take up matters on priority as decided in NSAC.
- State Maritime Boards/State Port Departments: They shall service the State Sagarmala Committee and also be, inter alia, responsible for coordination and implementation.
- Sagarmala Development Company Limited: It is set up under Companies Act, 2013 to assist the State level/zone level Special Purpose Vehicles.
  - It is now renamed as Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India's first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in the maritime sector.

Various initiatives taken under Sagarmala Programme

Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative (S2I2) launched in March 2025 to drive Research, Innovation, Startups, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) in maritime technology.
Center of Excellence in Maritime and Ship Building (CEMS): It was set up in 2017 by Ministry of Shipping in collaboration with Siemens and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) under Sagarmala Programme.
Coastal Berth Scheme: It aims to provide financial support to ports and state governments for creation of infrastructure for movement of cargo and passenger by sea or national waterways.

Conclusion

Sagarmala 2.0 will position India as a hub for maritime innovation and sustainability thereby steering towards a globally competitive maritime ecosystem that fuels economic growth, job creation, and Blue Economy.