PM Modi highlights India’s $8 billion maritime revival and inland waterways transformation

By Admin

24 Oct, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted a visionary article by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, outlining India’s ambitious plan to revitalise its maritime and inland waterways sectors a cornerstone of the nation’s economic growth and connectivity strategy.

Sharing Sonowal’s article on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote that it “explains how a growing and resilient industrial base, powered by Make in India, and the modernisation, mechanisation, and digitalisation of ports along the busy east–west trade corridor are giving India a distinct global edge.” He emphasised that the government’s $8 billion maritime development package is “not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition.”

Reimagining India’s Rivers

In his article, Sonowal celebrated how the Modi government is transforming India’s rivers into engines of progress. “India’s waterways are being rediscovered, reimagined, and rejuvenated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he wrote, stressing that this revival is central to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat  a developed, self-reliant India.

The inland waterways initiative aims to create a sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient transport network. By easing pressure on roads and railways while cutting emissions, it is expected to boost tourism, manufacturing, and infrastructure growth in riverine regions, ensuring that India’s rivers become critical arteries of trade and regional development.

The $8 Billion Maritime Push

Complementing the inland waterways transformation, the government has unveiled an $8 billion maritime package aimed at rebuilding India’s shipbuilding and port ecosystem. Sonowal described this as a transformative push to “reimagine, revive, and rejuvenate” India’s maritime strength, enhancing global competitiveness in shipping and logistics.

Key measures under the package include:

• Creating nearly three million direct and indirect jobs.
  
  

• Attracting investments worth ₹4.5 lakh crore.
  
  

• Expanding port capacity fourfold to over 10,000 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) with projects like Vadhavan Port and the ‘One Nation, One Port’ policy.
  
  

• Ramping up domestic shipbuilding capacity to 4.5 million Gross Tonnage (GT) annually.
  
  

• Establishing a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund for long-term financing.
  
  

• Promoting green and sustainable shipping through initiatives like green hydrogen hubs and eco-friendly tug deployment at major ports.
  
  

Positioning India as a Maritime Powerhouse

By endorsing Sonowal’s vision, PM Modi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to positioning India as a maritime powerhouse, leading in sustainable trade and logistics. The rejuvenation of waterways and maritime infrastructure is not just about economic growth; it symbolizes national pride and the potential to transform India’s global standing.

As India navigates toward Viksit Bharat, this ambitious maritime and inland waterways revival promises to become a defining engine of prosperity, connectivity, and sustainable development.