New Delhi, April 28
India’s major ports collectively handled a record-breaking 795 million tonnes of cargo in financial year 2022-23, registering a 10.4 per cent growth over the previous year. Furthermore, they achieved the highest-ever output per day of 17,239 tonnes, marking a 6 per cent increase compared to the last year. Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, attributes the achievements to a dedicated focus on developing and modernising India’s port infrastructure to boost trade and support economic growth.
Speaking at FICCI’s Port Infrastructure Conclave on Friday, Sonowal highlighted the new benchmark set by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) by handling over 6 million TEUs, reflecting the highest container throughput. The major ports also recorded their highest-ever number of vessels handled, reaching a total of 21,846 vessels in the year. The fleet of ships sailing under the Indian flag has expanded from 1,205 in 2014 to 1,526 by 2023, signalling an expanding maritime presence. This growth has been accompanied by a significant rise in gross tonnage, increasing from 10.3 million in 2014 to 13.7 million in 2023, reflecting the enhanced capacity and scale of operations. Furthermore, the number of Indian seafarers has grown from 1,17,090 in 2014 to a remarkable 2,50,071 in 2022, registering an increase of almost 114 per cent in just nine years.
With 95 per cent of India’s trading by volume and 70 per cent by value being done through maritime transportation, a modern and advanced port infrastructure has become of paramount importance for India to ensure smooth and efficient trading, Sonowal pointed out. The Government is looking at incorporating technology into port operations. Leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence are expected to help optimise port operations and boost efficiency. Digital initiatives such as the NLP-Marine and Sagar-Setu app are also geared up towards bringing all stakeholders onto a single platform, reducing logistical costs and time and improving overall efficiency.
Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee for Transport Infrastructure is of the view that India’s rapid move towards adopting advanced technologies like 5G and 6G will further enable the transformation of ports into connected, smart ports through the Internet of Things. Additionally, major ports are embracing automation, with the installation of gate automation, enterprise business solutions, and container scanners. Major ports are under development to become hydrogen hubs for handling, storage, and transportation of green hydrogen with Deendayal, Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar ports already developing the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen bunkering.