Central Government to Upgrade Cargo Handling Infrastructures

India's container handling capacity at major ports is set to nearly double in the next five years, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Currently, the country's central government-controlled ports handle about 23 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, but the target is to reach 40 million TEUs, generating an estimated two million new jobs.

In addition to expanding port capacity, India plans to establish shipbuilding and repair hubs in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. These hubs will be part of a larger strategy supported by a forthcoming Greenfield Shipyard Building scheme, which aims to enhance the nation's shipbuilding capabilities.

The government is also allocating over 3,900 acres in Kandla and V O Chidambaranar Port to develop hydrogen manufacturing hubs, attracting investments exceeding ₹5 lakh crore. This initiative aligns with the push towards clean energy and sustainability.

Further, TK Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, noted that demand and supply-side interventions are being developed to strengthen India's shipbuilding sector. A new scheme for greenfield shipyards is in progress, and the government will also revise the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme to offer higher incentives for building clean energy and hybrid fuel-powered ships. These measures are expected to bolster India's position as a future shipbuilding hub.