According to Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Kerala is a key component of India’s goal to become a maritime superpower by 2047.
To handle increasing cargo volumes, the Cochin Port and its transhipment port in Vallarpadam are scheduled to undergo additional expansion. Twenty of the 54 projects totaling ₹24,000 crore being carried out in Kerala under Sagarmala are already finished, he said.
“All of this is aimed at harnessing the State’s maritime potential and unlocking opportunities to further the larger goal of maritime excellence,” the Minister stated during an event held here.
The Minister claims that Kerala has been a major force behind this marine comeback. India’s first completely automated transhipment center, Vizhinjam International Seaport, has been in operation since 2024 and has already handled 10.6 lakh TEUs and about 500 ships. The Cochin Shipyard, which constructed the INS Vikrant, is growing its shipbuilding and repair operations worldwide.
With 78 electric-hybrid boats linking 10 island villages, the Kochi Water Metro, Asia’s largest integrated water transport system, is transforming metropolitan connections. As economic corridors, Kerala’s rivers are also being developed. In just three years, the International Cruise Terminal in Kochi has welcomed 1.4 lakh passengers and 105 cruise ships, demonstrating how National Waterway 3 has opened up tourism and logistical potential, he said.
The country’s maritime industry is experiencing a radical change that would establish it as a nautical giant in the future. According to him, India is expected to draw in investments of ₹80 lakh crore, create more than 1.5 crore employment, and promote environmentally friendly shipping methods under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
By 2035, 840 projects totaling ₹5.8 lakh crore will be implemented under the “Sagarmala” initiative, which is spearheading this transformation. 272 projects totaling ₹1.41 lakh crore have already been finished. India’s main ports have lowered turnaround times to 0.9 days, which is quicker than international standards set by Singapore, Germany, and the United States. According to him, nine Indian ports are currently included in the top 100 worldwide.